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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 69.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 82.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 77.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 85.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$2.02 ฿65.3
432.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$18.78 ฿608
214.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$7.67 ฿248
28.42%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$1.98 ฿64.2
95.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$0.82 ฿26.64
139.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$0.33 ฿10.58
381.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.12 ฿68.6
43.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$3.73 ฿121
23.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$1.64 ฿53.2
23.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$1.57 ฿50.9
83.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$1.19 ฿38.62
78.99%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$1.98 ฿64.1
48.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$15.99 ฿517
-39.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$3.12 ฿101
195.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$11.16 ฿361
22.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$2.76 ฿89.2
61.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.22 ฿39.5
18.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$1.71 ฿55.4
156.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$1.55 ฿50.2
129.03%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$1.34 ฿43.21
164.93%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$1.21 ฿39.23
168.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$0.72 ฿23.2
44.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$0.53 ฿17.05
428.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$4.72 ฿153
15.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$18.39 ฿595
3.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$1.79 ฿57.9
34.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$3.21 ฿104
-9.03%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$0.94 ฿30.44
6.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
$18.9 ฿612
119.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.42 ฿46.08
32.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.35 ฿43.53
37.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.85 ฿254
-0.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.25 ฿40.4
12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
78.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
49.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$70.6 ฿2,285
31.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$13.72 ฿444
89.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$17.56 ฿568
242.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$41.64 ฿1,347
35.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$6.9 ฿223
458.12%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$5.8 ฿188
70.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$308 ฿9,963
84.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-12.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$55.4 ฿1,793
14.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$26.4 ฿854
92.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$85.1 ฿2,755
46.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$71.8 ฿2,323
49.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$434 ฿14K
99.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$235 ฿7,610
127.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$821 ฿26.6K
73.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$498 ฿16.1K
107.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
$2,180 ฿70.6K
31.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
9.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
$703 ฿22.8K
41.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
5
103.40%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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