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 153.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 390.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz, CA is 163.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 329.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.89 $22.89

$2.03 ฿64.2

1027.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.3 $79.3

$18.59 ฿588

326.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.68 $12.68

$7.48 ฿237

69.52%

Cappuccino

$5.97 $5.97

$2.00 ฿63.2

198.50%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$0.85 ฿26.81

298.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.35 ฿11.13

602.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.90 $6.90

$2.21 ฿70.0

212.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.34 $7.34

$3.76 ฿119

95.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.72 ฿54.4

-20.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.96 $4.96

$1.63 ฿51.7

204.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.77 $6.77

$1.16 ฿36.66

483.62%

Eggs

$6.10 $6.10

$1.98 ฿62.6

208.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.51 $23.51

$15.93 ฿504

47.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$3.17 ฿100

365.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.74 $23.74

$10.90 ฿345

117.80%

Apples (1kg)

$7.23 $7.23

$2.65 ฿83.7

172.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.22 ฿38.70

138.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$1.70 ฿53.7

205.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.74 $7.74

$1.59 ฿50.3

386.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.32 ฿41.90

190.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$1.17 ฿36.99

231.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.83 $2.83

$0.68 ฿21.46

316.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$0.56 ฿17.64

405.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.84 $13.84

$4.51 ฿143

206.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$30.42 $30.42

$19.07 ฿604

59.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.77 ฿56.0

16.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.18 ฿101

-12.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.96 ฿30.47

113.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 $65.5

$18.90 ฿598

246.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 $4.06

$1.36 ฿42.98

198.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.35 ฿42.80

42.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.13 $39.13

$8.03 ฿254

387.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.24 ฿39.34

4.03%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$21.2K ฿669.8K

66.77%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$21.8K ฿688.5K

17.20%

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

$222 $222

$71.2 ฿2,255

211.26%

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

$47.69 $47.69

$14.09 ฿446

238.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$17.47 ฿553

278.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.6 $59.6

$42.07 ฿1,332

41.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿218

Cinema Ticket

$16.77 $16.77

$5.94 ฿188

182.32%

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

$3,166 $3,166

$307 ฿9,728

930.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$14.8K ฿468.2K

160.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 $62.4

$55.7 ฿1,762

12.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.11 $45.11

$26.79 ฿848

68.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 $81.2

$83.2 ฿2,634

-2.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$70.1 ฿2,219

66.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,924 $2,924

$427 ฿13.5K

584.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,590 $2,590

$237 ฿7,504

992.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,670 $5,670

$802 ฿25.4K

607.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$503 ฿15.9K

724.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,946 $7,946

$2,061 ฿65.2K

285.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K $11.4K

$1,533 ฿48.5K

642.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,566 $5,566

$654 ฿20.7K

751.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

27.20%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz, CA: 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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