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 9.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 6.6% 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
$2.83 BOB 19.4
$2.02 ฿65.3
40.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.78 BOB 183
$18.78 ฿608
42.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.46 BOB 51.1
$7.67 ฿248
-2.74%
Cappuccino
$2.72 BOB 18.63
$1.98 ฿64.2
37.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 BOB 5.21
$0.82 ฿26.64
-7.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 BOB 4.83
$0.33 ฿10.58
115.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 BOB 10.16
$2.12 ฿68.6
-30.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 BOB 13.57
$3.73 ฿121
-46.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 BOB 7.35
$1.64 ฿53.2
-34.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 BOB 9.73
$1.57 ฿50.9
-9.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 BOB 9.14
$1.19 ฿38.62
11.76%
Eggs
$1.77 BOB 12.14
$1.98 ฿64.1
-10.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.65 BOB 31.86
$15.99 ฿517
-70.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.15 BOB 28.42
$3.12 ฿101
33.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.51 BOB 44.57
$11.16 ฿361
-41.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 BOB 18.08
$2.76 ฿89.2
-4.35%
Banana (1kg)
$0.91 BOB 6.26
$1.22 ฿39.5
-25.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 BOB 7.8
$1.71 ฿55.4
-33.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1 BOB 6.88
$1.55 ฿50.2
-35.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 BOB 6.43
$1.34 ฿43.21
-29.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 BOB 7.04
$1.21 ฿39.23
-14.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 BOB 5.38
$0.72 ฿23.2
9.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 BOB 7.63
$0.53 ฿17.05
109.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 BOB 14.68
$4.72 ฿153
-54.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.05 BOB 48.27
$18.39 ฿595
-61.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 BOB 10.12
$1.79 ฿57.9
-17.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 BOB 14.08
$3.21 ฿104
-35.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.3 BOB 2.04
$0.94 ฿30.44
-68.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.71 BOB 149
$18.9 ฿612
14.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 BOB 19.74
$1.42 ฿46.08
102.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 BOB 10.01
$1.35 ฿43.53
8.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.08 BOB 48.49
$7.85 ฿254
-9.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 BOB 3.94
$1.25 ฿40.4
-53.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K BOB 200.6K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
38.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K BOB 190.7K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
27.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.2 BOB 371
$70.6 ฿2,285
-23.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.31 BOB 153
$13.72 ฿444
62.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.84 BOB 225
$17.56 ฿568
87.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.3 BOB 221
$41.64 ฿1,347
-22.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.34 BOB 146
$6.9 ฿223
209.28%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13 BOB 48.81
$5.8 ฿188
22.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 BOB 1,384
$308 ฿9,963
-34.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,227 BOB 29K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-71.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.42 BOB 297
$55.4 ฿1,793
-21.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.74 BOB 334
$26.4 ฿854
84.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 BOB 582
$85.1 ฿2,755
-0.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.7 BOB 423
$71.8 ฿2,323
-14.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$402 BOB 2,757
$434 ฿14K
-7.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$260 BOB 1,778
$235 ฿7,610
10.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$759 BOB 5,200
$821 ฿26.6K
-7.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$651 BOB 4,462
$498 ฿16.1K
30.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,375 BOB 9,421
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-36.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,667 BOB 11.4K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
8.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$401 BOB 2,750
$703 ฿22.8K
-42.93%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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