Cost of Living Comparison Between San José and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between San José and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: San José is 49.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 14.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San José is 58.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 16.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San José
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.87 UYU 652
$2.02 ฿65.3
685.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1 UYU 2,222
$18.78 ฿608
187.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 UYU 460
$7.67 ฿248
45.76%
Cappuccino
$4.26 UYU 175
$1.98 ฿64.2
115.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 UYU 89
$0.82 ฿26.64
164.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 UYU 72.6
$0.33 ฿10.58
436.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.33 UYU 178
$2.12 ฿68.6
104.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 UYU 154
$3.73 ฿121
0.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San José
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 UYU 40.62
$1.64 ฿53.2
-39.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 UYU 78.6
$1.57 ฿50.9
21.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 UYU 59.8
$1.19 ฿38.62
22.69%
Eggs
$2.51 UYU 103
$1.98 ฿64.1
26.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.42 UYU 510
$15.99 ฿517
-22.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.13 UYU 293
$3.12 ฿101
128.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.19 UYU 460
$11.16 ฿361
0.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 UYU 49.1
$2.76 ฿89.2
-56.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 UYU 61
$1.22 ฿39.5
22.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 UYU 49
$1.71 ฿55.4
-30.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 UYU 61.3
$1.55 ฿50.2
-3.87%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 UYU 38.35
$1.34 ฿43.21
-30.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.2 UYU 49.51
$1.21 ฿39.23
-0.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 UYU 54.4
$0.72 ฿23.2
83.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 UYU 68.2
$0.53 ฿17.05
213.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.01 UYU 206
$4.72 ฿153
6.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 UYU 407
$18.39 ฿595
-46.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 UYU 96.5
$1.79 ฿57.9
31.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 UYU 124
$3.21 ฿104
-6.23%
🚌 Getting Around
San José
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 UYU 50.9
$0.94 ฿30.44
31.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.32 UYU 1,780
$18.9 ฿612
129.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 UYU 61.4
$1.42 ฿46.08
4.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 UYU 63.9
$1.35 ฿43.53
15.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.22 UYU 461
$7.85 ฿254
42.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 UYU 74.9
$1.25 ฿40.4
45.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K UYU 1.4M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
62.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
67.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San José
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 UYU 7,055
$70.6 ฿2,285
143.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.75 UYU 688
$13.72 ฿444
22.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49 UYU 2,014
$17.56 ฿568
179.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San José
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.64 ฿1,347
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.9 ฿223
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.6 UYU 435
$5.8 ฿188
82.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San José
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$483 UYU 19.9K
$308 ฿9,963
57.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,821 UYU 362.5K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-40.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San José
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7 UYU 3,768
$55.4 ฿1,793
65.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.8 UYU 1,923
$26.4 ฿854
77.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 UYU 4,739
$85.1 ฿2,755
35.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 UYU 5,072
$71.8 ฿2,323
71.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San José
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$434 ฿14K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$235 ฿7,610
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$821 ฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$498 ฿16.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San José
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$703 ฿22.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
5
13.60%

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

Last update for San José: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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