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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,480 per month in San Salvador vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,194 per month in San Salvador vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,908 per month in San Salvador vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

San Salvador costs about 70% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

San Salvador sits 10% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 $7.90

$1.98 ฿65.1

298.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.29 $35.29

$18.80 ฿620

87.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.11 $7.11

$7.75 ฿255

-8.26%

Cappuccino

$3.22 $3.22

$1.92 ฿63.2

67.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.79 ฿26.09

40.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.36 ฿11.75

138.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.21 ฿72.9

-9.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.66 ฿121

-19.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.65 ฿54.5

9.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.63 ฿53.8

26.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.19 ฿39.31

26.89%

Eggs

$2.76 $2.76

$2.00 ฿65.8

38.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$15.98 ฿526

-56.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 $6.60

$3.03 ฿99.7

117.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.92 $10.92

$10.86 ฿358

0.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.76 ฿91.0

16.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.18 ฿38.87

47.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.64 ฿54.1

59.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.52 ฿50.1

78.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.38 ฿45.63

62.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.19 ฿39.29

77.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.70 ฿23.13

44.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.56 ฿18.34

83.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.58 ฿151

-11.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 $11.85

$16.56 ฿546

-28.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.83 ฿60.2

-3.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$3.20 ฿105

-21.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.88 ฿28.90

-62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.21 $25.21

$18.72 ฿617

34.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.55 $5.55

$1.36 ฿44.68

308.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.34 ฿44.16

126.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.33 $20.33

$7.84 ฿258

159.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.23 ฿40.39

-16.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.1K $25.1K

$21.6K ฿712.5K

16.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.6K $28.6K

$22.5K ฿742.9K

26.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$104 $104

$70.5 ฿2,324

46.98%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.40 $19.40

$13.68 ฿451

41.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.32 $41.32

$17.45 ฿575

136.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.12 $31.12

$41.33 ฿1,362

-24.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.78 $19.78

$6.96 ฿229

184.20%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 $5.20

$5.77 ฿190

-9.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$149 $149

$307 ฿10.1K

-51.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,946 $5,946

$14.6K ฿481.4K

-59.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.5 $68.5

$55.8 ฿1,838

22.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.83 $43.83

$26.21 ฿864

67.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$85.8 ฿2,825

37.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$72.2 ฿2,380

42.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 $851

$430 ฿14.2K

97.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$703 $703

$239 ฿7,865

194.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,468 $1,468

$817 ฿26.9K

79.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,096 $1,096

$511 ฿16.8K

114.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,752 $2,752

$1,983 ฿65.3K

38.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,844 $1,844

$1,484 ฿48.9K

24.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$380 $380

$619 ฿20.4K

-38.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.58

71.60%

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

Last update for San Salvador: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $851 in San Salvador versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 63% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in San Salvador versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Salvador vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Salvador costs about 70% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,220 per month in San Salvador and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $149 per month in San Salvador and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in San Salvador, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in San Salvador at $1,480. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Salvador it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,480 in San Salvador. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Salvador makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.