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 27.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 1.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 42.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72 JMD 1,228
$2.02 ฿65.3
282.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63 JMD 10K
$18.78 ฿608
235.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.96 JMD 1,427
$7.67 ฿248
16.82%
Cappuccino
$4.46 JMD 710
$1.98 ฿64.2
125.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 JMD 210
$0.82 ฿26.64
60.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 JMD 119
$0.33 ฿10.58
127.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 JMD 396
$2.12 ฿68.6
17.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 JMD 487
$3.73 ฿121
-17.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.23 JMD 674
$1.64 ฿53.2
157.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.58 JMD 570
$1.57 ฿50.9
128.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 JMD 256
$1.19 ฿38.62
35.29%
Eggs
$3.48 JMD 554
$1.98 ฿64.1
75.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.08 JMD 1,764
$15.99 ฿517
-30.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.46 JMD 1,028
$3.12 ฿101
107.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.85 JMD 1,250
$11.16 ฿361
-29.66%
Apples (1kg)
$5.83 JMD 929
$2.76 ฿89.2
111.23%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 JMD 496
$1.22 ฿39.5
155.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.11 JMD 654
$1.71 ฿55.4
140.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3 JMD 478
$1.55 ฿50.2
93.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 JMD 325
$1.34 ฿43.21
52.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 JMD 305
$1.21 ฿39.23
58.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3 JMD 477
$0.72 ฿23.2
316.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 JMD 238
$0.53 ฿17.05
181.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.88 JMD 1,413
$4.72 ฿153
88.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.29 JMD 1,798
$18.39 ฿595
-38.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 JMD 437
$1.79 ฿57.9
53.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 JMD 488
$3.21 ฿104
-4.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.9 ฿612
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 JMD 177
$1.42 ฿46.08
-21.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.11 JMD 494
$1.35 ฿43.53
130.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.33 JMD 1,007
$7.85 ฿254
-19.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 JMD 195
$1.25 ฿40.4
-1.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K JMD 6.9M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
105.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34K JMD 5.4M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
55.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 JMD 26.1K
$70.6 ฿2,285
131.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.27 JMD 3,546
$13.72 ฿444
62.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 JMD 8,062
$17.56 ฿568
188.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.64 ฿1,347
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.9 ฿223
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.35 JMD 2,126
$5.8 ฿188
130.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 JMD 36.6K
$308 ฿9,963
-25.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,493 JMD 396.8K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-83.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.93 JMD 4,128
$55.4 ฿1,793
-53.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.56 JMD 4,068
$26.4 ฿854
-3.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.1 JMD 11.5K
$85.1 ฿2,755
-15.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2 JMD 12.3K
$71.8 ฿2,323
7.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$434 ฿14K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$235 ฿7,610
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$821 ฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$498 ฿16.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$396 JMD 63K
$703 ฿22.8K
-43.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
5
83.00%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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