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

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz, CA is 113.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 387.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz, CA is 155.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 313.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.44 $22.44
$2.02 ฿65.3
1010.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7 $79.7
$18.78 ฿608
324.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.36 $12.36
$7.67 ฿248
61.15%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$1.98 ฿64.2
195.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$0.82 ฿26.64
315.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$0.33 ฿10.58
669.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.93 $6.93
$2.12 ฿68.6
226.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.46 $7.46
$3.73 ฿121
100.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.64 ฿53.2
-12.80%
White Bread (500g)
$5.16 $5.16
$1.57 ฿50.9
228.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$1.19 ฿38.62
458.82%
Eggs
$5.96 $5.96
$1.98 ฿64.1
201.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.24 $23.24
$15.99 ฿517
45.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.85 $14.85
$3.12 ฿101
375.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.7 $23.7
$11.16 ฿361
112.37%
Apples (1kg)
$7.05 $7.05
$2.76 ฿89.2
155.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.22 ฿39.5
127.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$1.71 ฿55.4
211.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$1.55 ฿50.2
383.23%
Potato (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$1.34 ฿43.21
189.55%
Onion (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$1.21 ฿39.23
224.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.9 $2.9
$0.72 ฿23.2
302.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$0.53 ฿17.05
439.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.16 $14.16
$4.72 ฿153
200.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.02 $12.02
$18.39 ฿595
-34.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.79 ฿57.9
20.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.21 ฿104
-16.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.94 ฿30.44
118.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 $65.2
$18.9 ฿612
245.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$1.42 ฿46.08
188.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.35 ฿43.53
42.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.9 $38.9
$7.85 ฿254
395.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.25 ฿40.4
-0.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K $34.9K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
64.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
21.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 $221
$70.6 ฿2,285
212.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.05 $47.05
$13.72 ฿444
242.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8 $67.8
$17.56 ฿568
286.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 $60.2
$41.64 ฿1,347
44.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.9 ฿223
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.04 $17.04
$5.8 ฿188
193.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,225 $3,225
$308 ฿9,963
947.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K $38.5K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
161.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 $63.2
$55.4 ฿1,793
14.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.64 $46.64
$26.4 ฿854
76.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 $79.3
$85.1 ฿2,755
-6.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$71.8 ฿2,323
60.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,893 $2,893
$434 ฿14K
566.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,648 $2,648
$235 ฿7,610
1025.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,700 $5,700
$821 ฿26.6K
594.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,219 $4,219
$498 ฿16.1K
746.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,235 $9,235
$2,180 ฿70.6K
323.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,116 $8,116
$1,543 ฿49.9K
426.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,594 $5,594
$703 ฿22.8K
695.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
5
27.20%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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