Cost of Living Comparison Between San Dimas, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between San Dimas, CA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,537 per month in San Dimas, CA vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,820 per month in San Dimas, CA vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,103 per month in San Dimas, CA vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

San Dimas, CA costs about 198% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

San Dimas, CA sits 89% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.28 $18.28

$1.96 ฿63.6

832.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.7 $79.7

$18.81 ฿611

323.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.92 $8.92

$7.92 ฿258

12.63%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$1.91 ฿62.2

165.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$0.84 ฿27.25

325.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.35 ฿11.44

534.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 $6.89

$2.21 ฿71.7

211.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.67 $7.67

$3.80 ฿124

101.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.64 ฿53.2

-29.88%

White Bread (500g)

$4.26 $4.26

$1.62 ฿52.8

162.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$1.18 ฿38.40

306.78%

Eggs

$3.70 $3.70

$2.01 ฿65.4

84.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.12 $12.12

$15.89 ฿517

-23.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$3.01 ฿98.0

432.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$10.77 ฿350

41.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.61 ฿85.0

75.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.22 ฿39.65

36.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$1.70 ฿55.4

202.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$1.58 ฿51.2

256.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.32 ฿42.89

140.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.17 ฿38.01

152.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.67 ฿21.85

208.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.56 ฿18.21

285.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.80 $10.80

$4.53 ฿147

138.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.17 $16.17

$18.20 ฿592

-11.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.83 ฿59.6

5.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.23 ฿105

11.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.89 ฿28.83

121.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 $6.61

$1.35 ฿43.95

389.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.35 ฿43.79

22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 $29.03

$8.25 ฿268

251.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.27 ฿41.40

-1.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$21.2K ฿687.8K

20.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.4K $28.4K

$22.5K ฿731.0K

26.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$159 $159

$70.2 ฿2,281

127.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.6 $53.6

$13.77 ฿448

289.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.0 $58.0

$17.60 ฿572

229.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.38 $42.38

$41.57 ฿1,352

1.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$15.33 $15.33

$5.78 ฿188

165.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,516 $1,516

$306 ฿9,953

395.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

58.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.46 $47.46

$54.4 ฿1,768

-12.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.70 $33.70

$26.14 ฿850

28.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$84.5 ฿2,748

18.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$69.4 ฿2,257

46.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 $1,630

$424 ฿13.8K

284.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 $1,330

$238 ฿7,743

458.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,594 $2,594

$825 ฿26.8K

214.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,210 $2,210

$515 ฿16.7K

329.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,965 $2,965

$2,049 ฿66.6K

44.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,702 $2,702

$1,523 ฿49.5K

77.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,991 $3,991

$635 ฿20.6K

528.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

32.80%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Dimas, CA: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,630 in San Dimas, CA versus $424 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 528% higher in San Dimas, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in San Dimas, CA versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $431 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Dimas, CA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Dimas, CA costs about 198% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,805 per month in San Dimas, CA and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in San Dimas, CA and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 77% more in San Dimas, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in San Dimas, CA at $2,537. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Dimas, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,537 in San Dimas, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Dimas, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.