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 114.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 122.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 93.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 116.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.03 ฿64.6
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.59 ฿593
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.48 ฿238
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.00 ฿63.7
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.85 ฿27.01
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.35 ฿11.21
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21 ฿70.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.76 ฿120
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 AWG 3.93
$1.72 ฿54.8
27.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 AWG 4.74
$1.63 ฿52.1
62.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.46 AWG 7.98
$1.16 ฿36.93
284.48%
Eggs
$4.71 AWG 8.43
$1.98 ฿63.1
137.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.92 AWG 14.17
$15.93 ฿508
-50.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.55 AWG 13.52
$3.17 ฿101
138.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.54 AWG 11.71
$10.90 ฿348
-40.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 AWG 7.99
$2.65 ฿84.3
68.68%
Banana (1kg)
$4.54 AWG 8.12
$1.22 ฿38.98
272.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.22 AWG 14.72
$1.70 ฿54.1
383.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.66 AWG 11.92
$1.59 ฿50.7
318.87%
Potato (1kg)
$6.87 AWG 12.29
$1.32 ฿42.21
420.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 AWG 3.51
$1.17 ฿37.25
67.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 AWG 5.33
$0.68 ฿21.61
338.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$4.31 AWG 7.72
$0.56 ฿17.76
669.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.15 AWG 18.17
$4.51 ฿144
125.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.50 AWG 34.91
$19.07 ฿608
2.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 AWG 4.45
$1.77 ฿56.4
40.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 AWG 5.61
$3.18 ฿101
-1.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 AWG 3.53
$0.96 ฿30.70
105.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$155 AWG 278
$18.90 ฿602
720.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$19.67 AWG 35.21
$1.36 ฿43.29
1346.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.35 ฿43.11
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.69 AWG 35.24
$8.03 ฿256
145.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.24 ฿39.62
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K ฿674.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$21.8K ฿693.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 AWG 252
$71.2 ฿2,271
97.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.1 AWG 131
$14.09 ฿449
418.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$205 AWG 367
$17.47 ฿557
1074.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.9 AWG 125
$42.07 ฿1,341
66.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.61 AWG 83.4
$6.88 ฿219
577.47%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17 AWG 14.62
$5.94 ฿189
37.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$136 AWG 244
$307 ฿9,799
-55.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿471.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.9 AWG 139
$55.7 ฿1,775
39.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$113 AWG 202
$26.79 ฿854
320.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 AWG 251
$83.2 ฿2,653
68.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 AWG 247
$70.1 ฿2,235
96.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,259 AWG 2,254
$427 ฿13.6K
194.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$555 AWG 994
$237 ฿7,559
134.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,548 AWG 2,771
$802 ฿25.6K
93.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 AWG 2,458
$503 ฿16.0K
172.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,061 ฿65.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,533 ฿48.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,653 AWG 6,539
$654 ฿20.8K
458.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5
-

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: March 1, 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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