Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz is 144.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 113% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 78.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 109.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.7

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

$0.84 ฿26.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 AWG 3.76

$1.67 ฿52.4

25.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 AWG 4.72

$1.62 ฿51.1

62.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 AWG 7.82

$1.20 ฿37.83

264.17%

Eggs

$4.71 AWG 8.42

$1.93 ฿60.8

144.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 AWG 14.07

$16.00 ฿503

-50.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 AWG 13.43

$3.16 ฿99.2

137.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.59 AWG 11.80

$10.93 ฿344

-39.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 AWG 8.03

$2.67 ฿83.8

67.79%

Banana (1kg)

$4.50 AWG 8.06

$1.18 ฿36.99

281.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.12 AWG 14.53

$1.64 ฿51.5

395.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.59 AWG 11.79

$1.59 ฿49.83

314.47%

Potato (1kg)

$6.84 AWG 12.25

$1.32 ฿41.64

418.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 AWG 3.40

$1.19 ฿37.49

59.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 AWG 5.55

$0.71 ฿22.20

336.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.47 AWG 8.00

$0.56 ฿17.75

698.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.37 AWG 18.56

$4.64 ฿146

123.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.19 AWG 34.35

$18.96 ฿596

1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 AWG 4.45

$1.77 ฿55.7

40.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 AWG 5.43

$3.20 ฿101

-5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 AWG 3.52

$0.90 ฿28.32

117.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$157 AWG 282

$19.24 ฿605

718.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$19.33 AWG 34.60

$1.36 ฿42.78

1321.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.38 AWG 34.69

$8.15 ฿256

137.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.43

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

$21.4K ฿671.8K

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

$21.7K ฿683.8K

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

$138 AWG 247

$70.3 ฿2,210

96.50%

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

$71.8 AWG 129

$13.91 ฿437

416.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$202 AWG 361

$18.00 ฿566

1020.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.5 AWG 123

$41.78 ฿1,314

63.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.27 AWG 84.6

$6.80 ฿214

595.15%

Cinema Ticket

$8.43 AWG 15.08

$5.72 ฿180

47.38%

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

$137 AWG 245

$308 ฿9,693

-55.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.8 AWG 139

$55.9 ฿1,756

39.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$111 AWG 199

$26.71 ฿840

316.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$140 AWG 251

$84.5 ฿2,658

65.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 AWG 244

$70.8 ฿2,227

92.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 AWG 2,280

$431 ฿13.5K

195.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 AWG 987

$237 ฿7,439

133.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,543 AWG 2,762

$811 ฿25.5K

90.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 AWG 2,461

$501 ฿15.7K

174.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,678 AWG 6,584

$684 ฿21.5K

437.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: January 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 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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