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

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Maria, CA is 85.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 270.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Maria, CA is 120% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 206.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Maria, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.15 $20.15
$2.03 ฿64.2
892.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 $69.1
$18.59 ฿588
271.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.66 $11.66
$7.48 ฿237
55.88%
Cappuccino
$4.75 $4.75
$2.00 ฿63.2
137.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.85 ฿26.81
197.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$0.35 ฿11.13
494.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.99 $5.99
$2.21 ฿70.0
171.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98 $7.98
$3.76 ฿119
112.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Maria, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.72 ฿54.4
-41.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.63 ฿51.7
71.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$1.16 ฿36.66
317.24%
Eggs
$3.53 $3.53
$1.98 ฿62.6
78.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.29 $10.29
$15.93 ฿504
-35.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 $8.34
$3.17 ฿100
163.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.81 $16.81
$10.90 ฿345
54.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.65 ฿83.7
42.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.22 ฿38.70
35.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.51 $3.51
$1.70 ฿53.7
106.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.59 ฿50.3
110.06%
Potato (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.32 ฿41.90
131.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.17 ฿36.99
73.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.68 ฿21.46
160.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 $1.37
$0.56 ฿17.64
144.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.07 $11.07
$4.51 ฿143
145.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.18 $15.18
$19.07 ฿604
-20.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.77 ฿56.0
-4.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.18 ฿101
7.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Maria, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.96 ฿30.47
113.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.90 ฿598
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 $3.49
$1.36 ฿42.98
156.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.35 ฿42.80
36.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$8.03 ฿254
216.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.24 ฿39.34
3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$21.2K ฿669.8K
73.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$21.8K ฿688.5K
34.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Maria, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 $167
$71.2 ฿2,255
134.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.82 $49.82
$14.09 ฿446
253.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.1 $83.1
$17.47 ฿553
375.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Maria, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.54 $43.54
$42.07 ฿1,332
3.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿218
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.24 $14.24
$5.94 ฿188
139.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Maria, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$982 $982
$307 ฿9,728
219.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K $12.9K
$14.8K ฿468.2K
-12.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Maria, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 $57.1
$55.7 ฿1,762
2.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.47 $39.47
$26.79 ฿848
47.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.3 $71.3
$83.2 ฿2,634
-14.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1 $78.1
$70.1 ฿2,219
11.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Maria, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,244 $2,244
$427 ฿13.5K
425.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,015 $2,015
$237 ฿7,504
749.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,382 $3,382
$802 ฿25.4K
321.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,061 $3,061
$503 ฿15.9K
508.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,625 $8,625
$2,061 ฿65.2K
318.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,627 $8,627
$1,533 ฿48.5K
462.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Maria, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,187 $4,187
$654 ฿20.7K
540.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
5
30.20%

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

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: March 2, 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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