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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose, CA is 157.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 417.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 184.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 355% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.48 $20.48
$2.03 ฿64.0
908.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$18.59 ฿586
443.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.66 $11.66
$7.48 ฿236
55.88%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$2.00 ฿63.0
192.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$0.85 ฿26.72
276.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.35 ฿11.09
608.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.82 $8.82
$2.21 ฿69.8
299.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.94 $10.94
$3.76 ฿118
190.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.72 ฿54.2
-18.02%
White Bread (500g)
$5.01 $5.01
$1.63 ฿51.5
207.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$1.16 ฿36.54
185.34%
Eggs
$4.80 $4.80
$1.98 ฿62.4
142.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.28 $21.28
$15.93 ฿502
33.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.69 $15.69
$3.17 ฿99.9
394.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.51 $22.51
$10.90 ฿344
106.51%
Apples (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$2.65 ฿83.4
128.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.22 ฿38.57
109.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$1.70 ฿53.5
194.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.44 $6.44
$1.59 ฿50.2
305.03%
Potato (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$1.32 ฿41.76
159.85%
Onion (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$1.17 ฿36.86
282.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.96 $2.96
$0.68 ฿21.38
335.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 $2.90
$0.56 ฿17.58
417.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.06 $11.06
$4.51 ฿142
145.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$19.07 ฿602
-22.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.77 ฿55.8
31.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 $3.47
$3.18 ฿100
9.12%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$0.96 ฿30.37
162.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.1 $91.1
$18.90 ฿596
381.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 $3.53
$1.36 ฿42.83
159.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.35 ฿42.65
36.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.59 $30.59
$8.03 ฿253
280.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.24 ฿39.20
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$21.2K ฿667.5K
38.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$21.8K ฿686.1K
22.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$294 $294
$71.2 ฿2,247
312.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.63 $48.63
$14.09 ฿444
245.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1 $69.1
$17.47 ฿551
295.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$125 $125
$42.07 ฿1,327
197.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.46 $30.46
$6.88 ฿217
342.73%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63 $15.63
$5.94 ฿187
163.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,978 $1,978
$307 ฿9,694
543.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.5K $26.5K
$14.8K ฿466.6K
78.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$55.7 ฿1,756
-4.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.59 $43.59
$26.79 ฿845
62.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.0 $89.0
$83.2 ฿2,625
6.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 $138
$70.1 ฿2,211
97.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,055 $3,055
$427 ฿13.5K
615.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,711 $2,711
$237 ฿7,478
1043.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,223 $5,223
$802 ฿25.3K
551.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,634 $4,634
$503 ฿15.9K
820.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,163 $9,163
$2,061 ฿65.0K
344.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,844 $9,844
$1,533 ฿48.3K
542.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,685 $5,685
$654 ฿20.6K
769.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
5
30.20%

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

Last update for San Jose, CA: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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