Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Tome and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Tome and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Sao Tome is 42.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 23% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sao Tome is 53.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 38.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Tome
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.41 STN 431
$2.02 ฿65.3
910.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.97 STN 970
$18.78 ฿608
144.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.99 STN 211
$7.67 ฿248
30.25%
Cappuccino
$1.78 STN 37.62
$1.98 ฿64.2
-10.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 STN 40.33
$0.82 ฿26.64
132.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 STN 24.99
$0.33 ฿10.58
257.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.61 STN 33.97
$2.12 ฿68.6
-24.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 STN 40.1
$3.73 ฿121
-49.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Tome
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 STN 29.26
$1.64 ฿53.2
-15.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1 STN 21
$1.57 ฿50.9
-36.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 STN 50.2
$1.19 ฿38.62
100.00%
Eggs
$4.98 STN 105
$1.98 ฿64.1
151.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.37 STN 430
$15.99 ฿517
27.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$20.07 STN 423
$3.12 ฿101
543.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.84 STN 524
$11.16 ฿361
122.58%
Apples (1kg)
$4.51 STN 95.1
$2.76 ฿89.2
63.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 STN 24.82
$1.22 ฿39.5
-3.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4 STN 84.3
$1.71 ฿55.4
133.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.43 STN 72.3
$1.55 ฿50.2
121.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 STN 55.9
$1.34 ฿43.21
97.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 STN 43.8
$1.21 ฿39.23
71.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 STN 14.19
$0.72 ฿23.2
-6.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 STN 41.73
$0.53 ฿17.05
273.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 STN 47.68
$4.72 ฿153
-52.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.41 STN 199
$18.39 ฿595
-48.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 STN 26.73
$1.79 ฿57.9
-29.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.3 STN 27.37
$3.21 ฿104
-59.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Tome
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 STN 26.66
$0.94 ฿30.44
34.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.9 ฿612
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.42 ฿46.08
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.35 ฿43.53
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.91 STN 293
$7.85 ฿254
77.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.7 STN 35.93
$1.25 ฿40.4
36.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K STN 482.7K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
4.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Tome
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$70.6 ฿2,285
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.49 STN 728
$13.72 ฿444
151.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73 STN 1,541
$17.56 ฿568
315.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Tome
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.95 STN 780
$41.64 ฿1,347
-11.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.71 STN 606
$6.9 ฿223
316.09%
Cinema Ticket
$21.2 STN 447
$5.8 ฿188
265.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Tome
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$308 ฿9,963
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Tome
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.4 ฿1,793
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.4 ฿854
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.1 ฿2,755
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.09 STN 403
$71.8 ฿2,323
-73.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Tome
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$344 STN 7,262
$434 ฿14K
-20.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$230 STN 4,857
$235 ฿7,610
-2.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$667 STN 14.1K
$821 ฿26.6K
-18.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$514 STN 10.9K
$498 ฿16.1K
3.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Tome
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$329 STN 6,931
$703 ฿22.8K
-53.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.38
5
47.60%

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

Last update for Sao Tome: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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