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

😐 Solo nomad: San Salvador is 28.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 79.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Salvador is 36.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 60.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 $8.09
$2.03 ฿64.6
298.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.46 $35.46
$18.59 ฿593
90.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.92 $6.92
$7.48 ฿238
-7.49%
Cappuccino
$3.24 $3.24
$2.00 ฿63.7
62.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 $1.11
$0.85 ฿27.01
30.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 $0.87
$0.35 ฿11.21
148.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.21 ฿70.5
-10.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.76 ฿120
-18.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.72 ฿54.8
5.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.63 ฿52.1
26.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.16 ฿36.93
32.76%
Eggs
$2.89 $2.89
$1.98 ฿63.1
45.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.91 $6.91
$15.93 ฿508
-56.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$3.17 ฿101
109.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.01 $11.01
$10.90 ฿348
1.01%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$2.65 ฿84.3
21.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.22 ฿38.98
35.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.70 ฿54.1
51.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.59 ฿50.7
67.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.32 ฿42.21
65.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.17 ฿37.25
80.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.68 ฿21.61
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.56 ฿17.76
83.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.51 ฿144
-9.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.83 $10.83
$19.07 ฿608
-43.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.77 ฿56.4
-0.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.18 ฿101
-23.58%
🚌 Getting Around
San Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 $0.33
$0.96 ฿30.70
-65.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.37 $25.37
$18.90 ฿602
34.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 $5.41
$1.36 ฿43.29
297.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.35 ฿43.11
124.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.30 $20.30
$8.03 ฿256
152.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.24 ฿39.62
-15.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$21.2K ฿674.7K
20.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$21.8K ฿693.5K
30.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 $103
$71.2 ฿2,271
44.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.83 $18.83
$14.09 ฿449
33.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.45 $42.45
$17.47 ฿557
142.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.15 $31.15
$42.07 ฿1,341
-25.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.96 $19.96
$6.88 ฿219
190.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.22 $5.22
$5.94 ฿189
-12.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 $144
$307 ฿9,799
-53.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,036 $6,036
$14.8K ฿471.6K
-59.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0 $67.0
$55.7 ฿1,775
20.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.02 $43.02
$26.79 ฿854
60.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 $114
$83.2 ฿2,653
36.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$70.1 ฿2,235
48.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$855 $855
$427 ฿13.6K
100.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$689 $689
$237 ฿7,559
190.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,465 $1,465
$802 ฿25.6K
82.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 $1,081
$503 ฿16.0K
114.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,818 $2,818
$2,061 ฿65.7K
36.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,826 $1,826
$1,533 ฿48.9K
19.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$384 $384
$654 ฿20.8K
-41.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.58
5
71.60%

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

Last update for San Salvador: March 2, 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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