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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,694 per month in Santa Clarita, CA vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,949 per month in Santa Clarita, CA vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,204 per month in Santa Clarita, CA vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Santa Clarita, CA costs about 336% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Santa Clarita, CA sits 177% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.74 $18.74

$1.96 ฿63.6

856.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 $85.8

$18.39 ฿598

366.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.16 $15.16

$7.87 ฿256

92.63%

Cappuccino

$5.83 $5.83

$1.95 ฿63.4

198.97%

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

$3.14 $3.14

$0.85 ฿27.57

269.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.32 ฿10.52

665.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.15 $9.15

$2.14 ฿69.6

327.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.20 $9.20

$3.68 ฿120

150.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.66 ฿53.9

-22.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$1.56 ฿50.7

156.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$1.19 ฿38.63

322.69%

Eggs

$5.30 $5.30

$1.99 ฿64.7

166.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.13 $23.13

$16.24 ฿528

42.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$3.17 ฿103

238.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.30 $17.30

$10.84 ฿352

59.59%

Apples (1kg)

$6.68 $6.68

$2.65 ฿86.2

152.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.22 ฿39.67

67.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.65 ฿53.7

129.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.55 ฿50.3

95.48%

Potato (1kg)

$9.92 $9.92

$1.33 ฿43.17

645.86%

Onion (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.21 ฿39.43

272.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$0.68 ฿22.04

345.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$0.57 ฿18.38

435.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.18 $13.18

$4.68 ฿152

181.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 $15.25

$16.99 ฿552

-10.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.82 ฿59.3

-6.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 $4.01

$3.18 ฿103

26.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.91 ฿29.46

181.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.18 $27.18

$18.74 ฿609

45.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.11 $6.11

$1.41 ฿45.80

333.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.34 ฿43.52

54.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.8 $50.8

$8.14 ฿265

524.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.28 ฿41.53

-0.78%

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

$20.2K $20.2K

$21.8K ฿709.3K

-7.32%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$22.4K ฿728.0K

13.99%

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

$234 $234

$70.5 ฿2,291

232.26%

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

$62.0 $62.0

$14.05 ฿457

341.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$17.65 ฿574

331.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 $37.07

$41.29 ฿1,342

-10.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.67 $24.67

$6.76 ฿220

264.94%

Cinema Ticket

$12.51 $12.51

$5.96 ฿194

109.90%

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

$1,403 $1,403

$303 ฿9,846

363.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.7K $37.7K

$15.0K ฿486.2K

152.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$54.7 ฿1,778

25.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.10 $15.10

$26.29 ฿854

-42.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.69 $49.69

$85.8 ฿2,788

-42.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$69.7 ฿2,265

104.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,924 $2,924

$428 ฿13.9K

582.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,249 $2,249

$239 ฿7,769

840.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,865 $3,865

$811 ฿26.4K

376.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,090 $3,090

$510 ฿16.6K

506.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,763 $3,763

$2,025 ฿65.8K

85.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,255 $4,255

$1,502 ฿48.8K

183.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,248 $5,248

$623 ฿20.2K

742.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

33.60%

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

Last update for Santa Clarita, CA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,924 in Santa Clarita, CA versus $428 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 743% higher in Santa Clarita, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Santa Clarita, CA versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $480 vs $242 – 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

Santa Clarita, CA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clarita, CA costs about 336% 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 $5,540 per month in Santa Clarita, CA and $1,272 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 $1,403 per month in Santa Clarita, CA and $303 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 98% more in Santa Clarita, CA, 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 $848, than in Santa Clarita, CA at $3,694. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Clarita, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $3,694 in Santa Clarita, CA. 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, Santa Clarita, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.