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 154.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 408.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 174.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 346.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.3 $20.3
$2.02 ฿65.3
904.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$18.78 ฿608
433.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.54 $11.54
$7.67 ฿248
50.46%
Cappuccino
$5.79 $5.79
$1.98 ฿64.2
192.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 $3.22
$0.82 ฿26.64
292.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$0.33 ฿10.58
648.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.8 $8.8
$2.12 ฿68.6
315.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.92 $10.92
$3.73 ฿121
192.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.64 ฿53.2
-10.98%
White Bread (500g)
$4.94 $4.94
$1.57 ฿50.9
214.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.19 ฿38.62
168.07%
Eggs
$4.85 $4.85
$1.98 ฿64.1
144.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.13 $21.13
$15.99 ฿517
32.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.17 $15.17
$3.12 ฿101
386.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.45 $22.45
$11.16 ฿361
101.16%
Apples (1kg)
$6.08 $6.08
$2.76 ฿89.2
120.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.22 ฿39.5
101.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$1.71 ฿55.4
180.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.75 $6.75
$1.55 ฿50.2
335.48%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$1.34 ฿43.21
156.72%
Onion (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$1.21 ฿39.23
253.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.97 $2.97
$0.72 ฿23.2
312.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$0.53 ฿17.05
422.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.32 $11.32
$4.72 ฿153
139.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.95 $14.95
$18.39 ฿595
-18.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.79 ฿57.9
31.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$3.21 ฿104
4.36%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.94 ฿30.44
169.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89 $89
$18.9 ฿612
370.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$1.42 ฿46.08
140.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.35 ฿43.53
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.82 $29.82
$7.85 ฿254
279.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.25 ฿40.4
4.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
42.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27K $27K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
23.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$292 $292
$70.6 ฿2,285
314.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.13 $49.13
$13.72 ฿444
258.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.9 $67.9
$17.56 ฿568
286.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$122 $122
$41.64 ฿1,347
192.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.12 $30.12
$6.9 ฿223
336.52%
Cinema Ticket
$15.45 $15.45
$5.8 ฿188
166.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,985 $1,985
$308 ฿9,963
544.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.2K $26.2K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
77.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 $52.5
$55.4 ฿1,793
-5.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.85 $43.85
$26.4 ฿854
66.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 $89.8
$85.1 ฿2,755
5.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 $138
$71.8 ฿2,323
92.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,022 $3,022
$434 ฿14K
596.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,672 $2,672
$235 ฿7,610
1036.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,283 $5,283
$821 ฿26.6K
543.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,622 $4,622
$498 ฿16.1K
827.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.6K $10.6K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
384.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,587 $9,587
$1,543 ฿49.9K
521.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,864 $5,864
$703 ฿22.8K
733.72%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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