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 72.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 82.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 81.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 88.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.95 ₡5,023
$2.01 ฿64.4
444.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡26.9K
$18.23 ฿583
221.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.24 ₡4,695
$7.65 ฿245
33.86%
Cappuccino
$3.94 ₡1,809
$1.92 ฿61.4
105.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₡950
$0.84 ฿26.91
146.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡728
$0.36 ฿11.39
341.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 ₡1,349
$2.19 ฿70.0
34.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 ₡2,156
$3.79 ฿121
24.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ₡941
$1.64 ฿52.4
25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 ₡1,311
$1.62 ฿51.8
76.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 ₡991
$1.15 ฿36.89
87.83%
Eggs
$2.98 ₡1,367
$1.94 ฿62.0
53.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,699
$15.94 ฿510
-35.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.10 ₡4,173
$3.10 ฿99.2
193.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 ₡6,333
$11.07 ฿354
24.75%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 ₡2,006
$2.71 ฿86.6
61.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ₡689
$1.18 ฿37.70
27.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,011
$1.71 ฿54.5
156.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 ₡1,586
$1.61 ฿51.3
114.91%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 ₡1,624
$1.39 ฿44.54
154.68%
Onion (1kg)
$3.22 ₡1,477
$1.15 ฿36.72
180.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡445
$0.71 ฿22.77
36.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₡1,327
$0.55 ฿17.60
425.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.15 ₡2,361
$4.57 ฿146
12.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.98 ₡10.1K
$18.87 ฿604
16.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 ₡1,143
$1.82 ฿58.2
36.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ₡1,306
$3.21 ฿103
-11.21%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ₡474
$0.88 ฿28.17
17.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.58 ₡18.6K
$18.89 ฿604
114.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₡859
$1.41 ฿45.18
32.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 ₡829
$1.30 ฿41.60
39.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 ₡3,724
$8.20 ฿262
-0.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ₡663
$1.23 ฿39.19
17.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₡17.5M
$21.2K ฿677.2K
80.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K ₡14.9M
$22.3K ฿713.5K
45.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.8K
$69.9 ฿2,234
33.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.89 ₡11.9K
$14.07 ฿450
84.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 ₡27.3K
$17.70 ฿566
236.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 ₡26.4K
$41.41 ฿1,324
39.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.80 ₡17.8K
$6.69 ฿214
479.97%
Cinema Ticket
$9.78 ₡4,484
$5.74 ฿184
70.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$559 ₡256.5K
$299 ฿9,569
86.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡5.9M
$15.0K ฿480.0K
-14.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9 ₡28.4K
$54.8 ฿1,753
12.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡23.5K
$26.35 ฿843
94.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡56.7K
$84.7 ฿2,707
46.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₡48.5K
$69.7 ฿2,230
51.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 ₡405.9K
$427 ฿13.7K
107.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$540 ₡247.6K
$241 ฿7,699
124.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 ₡659.8K
$811 ฿25.9K
77.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 ₡475.9K
$498 ฿15.9K
108.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,292 ₡1.1M
$2,022 ฿64.7K
13.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,773 ₡813.1K
$1,524 ฿48.7K
16.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,007 ₡461.8K
$639 ฿20.4K
57.53%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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 Jose vs other spots: cost of living compared

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