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 6.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 6.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 4.2% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 3.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94 BOB 20.37
$2.03 ฿64.2
44.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.08 BOB 188
$18.59 ฿588
45.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.14 BOB 49.46
$7.48 ฿237
-4.55%
Cappuccino
$2.81 BOB 19.46
$2.00 ฿63.2
40.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 BOB 5.47
$0.85 ฿26.81
-7.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 BOB 4.56
$0.35 ฿11.13
88.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.44 BOB 9.95
$2.21 ฿70.0
-34.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 BOB 13.20
$3.76 ฿119
-49.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 BOB 7.46
$1.72 ฿54.4
-37.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 BOB 9.84
$1.63 ฿51.7
-12.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 BOB 9.30
$1.16 ฿36.66
15.52%
Eggs
$1.76 BOB 12.22
$1.98 ฿62.6
-11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.77 BOB 33.05
$15.93 ฿504
-70.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.14 BOB 28.68
$3.17 ฿100
30.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.30 BOB 43.66
$10.90 ฿345
-42.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 BOB 18.96
$2.65 ฿83.7
3.40%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 BOB 6.14
$1.22 ฿38.70
-27.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 BOB 7.92
$1.70 ฿53.7
-32.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.00 BOB 6.90
$1.59 ฿50.3
-37.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 BOB 6.81
$1.32 ฿41.90
-25.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 BOB 6.93
$1.17 ฿36.99
-14.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 BOB 5.24
$0.68 ฿21.46
11.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 BOB 7.97
$0.56 ฿17.64
105.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 BOB 14.84
$4.51 ฿143
-52.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.31 BOB 50.6
$19.07 ฿604
-61.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 BOB 10.26
$1.77 ฿56.0
-16.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 BOB 13.94
$3.18 ฿101
-36.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 BOB 2.06
$0.96 ฿30.47
-68.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.43 BOB 149
$18.90 ฿598
13.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 BOB 20.49
$1.36 ฿42.98
117.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 BOB 10.28
$1.35 ฿42.80
9.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.28 BOB 50.5
$8.03 ฿254
-9.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.55 BOB 3.81
$1.24 ฿39.34
-55.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K BOB 199.2K
$21.2K ฿669.8K
35.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K BOB 194.0K
$21.8K ฿688.5K
28.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.4 BOB 370
$71.2 ฿2,255
-25.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.97 BOB 159
$14.09 ฿446
63.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 BOB 232
$17.47 ฿553
91.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.52 BOB 225
$42.07 ฿1,332
-22.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.03 BOB 153
$6.88 ฿218
220.20%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 BOB 49.29
$5.94 ฿188
19.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 BOB 1,400
$307 ฿9,728
-34.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,157 BOB 28.8K
$14.8K ฿468.2K
-71.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.44 BOB 294
$55.7 ฿1,762
-23.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.35 BOB 335
$26.79 ฿848
80.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.7 BOB 580
$83.2 ฿2,634
0.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.8 BOB 429
$70.1 ฿2,219
-11.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$414 BOB 2,868
$427 ฿13.5K
-3.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 BOB 1,813
$237 ฿7,504
10.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$748 BOB 5,186
$802 ฿25.4K
-6.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 BOB 4,398
$503 ฿15.9K
26.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,529 BOB 10.6K
$2,061 ฿65.2K
-25.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$864 BOB 5,985
$1,533 ฿48.5K
-43.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 BOB 3,496
$654 ฿20.7K
-22.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
5
33.40%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: March 3, 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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