Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Barbara, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Barbara, CA and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Barbara, CA is 135.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 328.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Barbara, CA is 114.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 322.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Barbara, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.82 $24.82
$2.02 ฿65.3
1128.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$18.78 ฿608
432.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$7.67 ฿248
32.59%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$1.98 ฿64.2
183.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.82 ฿26.64
232.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$0.33 ฿10.58
536.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.16 $8.16
$2.12 ฿68.6
284.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.1 $9.1
$3.73 ฿121
143.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Barbara, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.64 ฿53.2
-20.73%
White Bread (500g)
$4.89 $4.89
$1.57 ฿50.9
211.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$1.19 ฿38.62
305.88%
Eggs
$5.43 $5.43
$1.98 ฿64.1
174.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.51 $12.51
$15.99 ฿517
-21.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.62 $11.62
$3.12 ฿101
272.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.26 $14.26
$11.16 ฿361
27.78%
Apples (1kg)
$6.24 $6.24
$2.76 ฿89.2
126.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.22 ฿39.5
56.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.71 ฿55.4
124.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$1.55 ฿50.2
245.16%
Potato (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$1.34 ฿43.21
147.01%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.21 ฿39.23
151.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$0.72 ฿23.2
202.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.53 ฿17.05
281.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.02 $13.02
$4.72 ฿153
175.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.26 $15.26
$18.39 ฿595
-17.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.79 ฿57.9
-1.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 $4.07
$3.21 ฿104
26.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Barbara, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.8 $1.8
$0.94 ฿30.44
91.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 $65.2
$18.9 ฿612
244.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.82 $5.82
$1.42 ฿46.08
309.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2 $2
$1.35 ฿43.53
48.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.9 $50.9
$7.85 ฿254
548.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.25 ฿40.4
-2.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
34.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
16.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Barbara, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 $201
$70.6 ฿2,285
184.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.1 $54.1
$13.72 ฿444
294.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.4 $72.4
$17.56 ฿568
312.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Barbara, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.1 $66.1
$41.64 ฿1,347
58.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.29 $18.29
$6.9 ฿223
165.07%
Cinema Ticket
$12.64 $12.64
$5.8 ฿188
117.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Barbara, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,445 $1,445
$308 ฿9,963
369.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.3K $37.3K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
153.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Barbara, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 $68.4
$55.4 ฿1,793
23.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.33 $41.33
$26.4 ฿854
56.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 $77.7
$85.1 ฿2,755
-8.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 $146
$71.8 ฿2,323
102.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Barbara, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,643 $2,643
$434 ฿14K
508.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,296 $2,296
$235 ฿7,610
876.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,146 $5,146
$821 ฿26.6K
526.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,439 $4,439
$498 ฿16.1K
790.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.4K $10.4K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
375.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,888 $9,888
$1,543 ฿49.9K
540.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Barbara, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,242 $5,242
$703 ฿22.8K
645.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.68
5
33.60%

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

Last update for Santa Barbara, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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