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

😐 Solo nomad: San Rafael, CA is 183.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 409.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Rafael, CA is 158.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 274.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Rafael, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.54 $22.54
$2.03 ฿63.8
1010.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.9 $65.9
$18.59 ฿585
254.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 $11.08
$7.48 ฿235
48.13%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$2.00 ฿62.8
182.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$0.85 ฿26.63
218.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.35 ฿11.05
622.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.04 $6.04
$2.21 ฿69.5
173.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.38 $9.38
$3.76 ฿118
149.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Rafael, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.72 ฿54.0
-29.07%
White Bread (500g)
$4.07 $4.07
$1.63 ฿51.4
149.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.62 $6.62
$1.16 ฿36.42
470.69%
Eggs
$4.63 $4.63
$1.98 ฿62.2
133.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.59 $15.59
$15.93 ฿501
-2.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.13 $13.13
$3.17 ฿99.6
314.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.65 $18.65
$10.90 ฿343
71.10%
Apples (1kg)
$4.98 $4.98
$2.65 ฿83.2
87.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.22 ฿38.45
134.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$1.70 ฿53.4
262.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.50 $8.50
$1.59 ฿49.99
434.59%
Potato (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.32 ฿41.63
184.09%
Onion (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$1.17 ฿36.74
233.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 $2.47
$0.68 ฿21.31
263.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$0.56 ฿17.52
412.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.04 $11.04
$4.51 ฿142
144.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.95 $12.95
$19.07 ฿600
-32.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.77 ฿55.7
19.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.18 ฿100.0
9.75%
🚌 Getting Around
San Rafael, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.96 ฿30.27
57.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.03 $30.03
$18.90 ฿594
58.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$1.36 ฿42.69
162.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.35 ฿42.51
21.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.04 $29.04
$8.03 ฿253
261.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.24 ฿39.08
0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$21.2K ฿665.4K
27.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$21.8K ฿684.0K
24.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Rafael, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 $189
$71.2 ฿2,240
165.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$14.09 ฿443
264.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.9 $59.9
$17.47 ฿549
242.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Rafael, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$247 $247
$42.07 ฿1,323
487.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.28 $39.28
$6.88 ฿216
470.93%
Cinema Ticket
$14.77 $14.77
$5.94 ฿187
148.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Rafael, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,970 $1,970
$307 ฿9,664
540.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$14.8K ฿465.1K
56.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Rafael, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.88 $40.88
$55.7 ฿1,750
-26.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.41 $38.41
$26.79 ฿842
43.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$83.2 ฿2,617
21.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 $124
$70.1 ฿2,204
77.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Rafael, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,388 $3,388
$427 ฿13.4K
693.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,856 $2,856
$237 ฿7,454
1104.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,020 $4,020
$802 ฿25.2K
401.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,386 $3,386
$503 ฿15.8K
572.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,635 $7,635
$2,061 ฿64.8K
270.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,276 $5,276
$1,533 ฿48.2K
244.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Rafael, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,326 $5,326
$654 ฿20.6K
714.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.32
5
26.40%

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

Last update for San Rafael, 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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