Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and Chiang Mai 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Chiang Mai is 63.7% lower than in San Francisco, CA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Chiang Mai is 72.9% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Rent Prices in Chiang Mai are 86.6% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Chiang Mai are 79.2% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Groceries Prices in Chiang Mai are 58.0% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Chiang Mai is 66.4% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
Restaurants | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
25.00 $ (780.69 ฿) |
1.92 $ (60.00 ฿) |
-92.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
145.00 $ (4,528.00 ฿) |
19.21 $ (600.00 ฿) |
-86.7 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
15.00 $ (468.41 ฿) |
8.01 $ (250.00 ฿) |
-46.6 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
8.00 $ (249.82 ฿) |
2.24 $ (70.00 ฿) |
-72.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
10.00 $ (312.28 ฿) |
4.00 $ (124.91 ฿) |
-60.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5.83 $ (181.93 ฿) |
2.01 $ (62.86 ฿) |
-65.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.26 $ (101.77 ฿) |
0.82 $ (25.57 ฿) |
-74.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.84 $ (88.74 ฿) |
0.35 $ (10.95 ฿) |
-87.7 % |
Markets | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1.58 $ (49.47 ฿) |
1.96 $ (61.10 ฿) |
+23.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
4.77 $ (149.06 ฿) |
1.53 $ (47.75 ฿) |
-68.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
2.96 $ (92.34 ฿) |
0.57 $ (17.94 ฿) |
-80.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
6.60 $ (206.14 ฿) |
2.23 $ (69.65 ฿) |
-66.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
10.25 $ (319.93 ฿) |
7.95 $ (248.28 ฿) |
-22.4 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6.22 $ (194.19 ฿) |
1.55 $ (48.38 ฿) |
-75.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
11.02 $ (344.11 ฿) |
5.26 $ (164.35 ฿) |
-52.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
3.33 $ (104.07 ฿) |
1.17 $ (36.58 ฿) |
-64.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
1.30 $ (40.46 ฿) |
0.49 $ (15.40 ฿) |
-61.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.55 $ (79.69 ฿) |
0.80 $ (25.13 ฿) |
-68.5 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
3.48 $ (108.72 ฿) |
0.79 $ (24.55 ฿) |
-77.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.75 $ (54.64 ฿) |
0.68 $ (21.37 ฿) |
-60.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.99 $ (62.16 ฿) |
0.56 $ (17.56 ฿) |
-71.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
3.11 $ (97.23 ฿) |
0.82 $ (25.57 ฿) |
-73.7 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.99 $ (93.29 ฿) |
0.54 $ (16.92 ฿) |
-81.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
19.00 $ (593.32 ฿) |
19.21 $ (600.00 ฿) |
+1.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
3.05 $ (95.10 ฿) |
1.83 $ (57.25 ฿) |
-39.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.68 $ (114.77 ฿) |
3.36 $ (105.06 ฿) |
-8.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
14.00 $ (437.19 ฿) |
4.66 $ (145.60 ฿) |
-66.7 % |
Transportation | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
3.00 $ (93.68 ฿) |
0.96 $ (30.00 ฿) |
-68.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
87.00 $ (2,716.80 ฿) |
57.64 $ (1,800.00 ฿) |
-33.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
4.15 $ (129.59 ฿) |
1.28 $ (40.00 ฿) |
-69.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
3.27 $ (102.02 ฿) |
1.55 $ (48.28 ฿) |
-52.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
39.00 $ (1,217.88 ฿) |
1.92 $ (60.00 ฿) |
-95.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
1.28 $ (39.91 ฿) |
1.29 $ (40.18 ฿) |
+0.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
36,998.00 $ (1,155,358.19 ฿) |
22,416.08 $ (700,000.00 ฿) |
-39.4 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
26,147.70 $ (816,529.66 ฿) |
28,254.93 $ (882,333.33 ฿) |
+8.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
227.48 $ (7,103.61 ฿) |
71.98 $ (2,247.92 ฿) |
-68.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
66.71 $ (2,083.14 ฿) |
14.07 $ (439.41 ฿) |
-78.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
70.73 $ (2,208.83 ฿) |
19.42 $ (606.58 ฿) |
-72.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
115.57 $ (3,609.02 ฿) |
38.44 $ (1,200.25 ฿) |
-66.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
21.88 $ (683.10 ฿) |
4.10 $ (128.12 ฿) |
-81.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
17.00 $ (530.87 ฿) |
7.37 $ (230.00 ฿) |
-56.7 % |
Childcare | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,105.72 $ (96,984.08 ฿) |
842.27 $ (26,302.14 ฿) |
-72.9 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
42,000.00 $ (1,311,558.57 ฿) |
15,973.41 $ (498,811.11 ฿) |
-62.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
72.00 $ (2,248.39 ฿) |
59.11 $ (1,845.79 ฿) |
-17.9 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
48.60 $ (1,517.64 ฿) |
26.75 $ (835.44 ฿) |
-45.0 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
99.75 $ (3,114.95 ฿) |
95.59 $ (2,985.00 ฿) |
-4.2 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
127.76 $ (3,989.70 ฿) |
86.99 $ (2,716.48 ฿) |
-31.9 % |
Rent Per Month | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
3,376.23 $ (105,431.62 ฿) |
476.33 $ (14,874.71 ฿) |
-85.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,732.48 $ (85,328.75 ฿) |
267.67 $ (8,358.82 ฿) |
-90.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
5,730.00 $ (178,934.06 ฿) |
926.94 $ (28,946.15 ฿) |
-83.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
4,625.88 $ (144,455.13 ฿) |
532.38 $ (16,625.00 ฿) |
-88.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
988.68 $ (30,873.95 ฿) |
204.77 $ (6,394.34 ฿) |
-79.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
857.07 $ (26,764.37 ฿) |
146.87 $ (4,586.40 ฿) |
-82.9 % |
Salaries And Financing | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Chiang Mai Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
7,553.70 $ (235,883.81 ฿) |
687.19 $ (21,459.23 ฿) |
-90.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.38 | 5.97 | -6.5 % |
| Last update: | 7 January 2026 | 28 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 123 | 37 | |
Moving to San Francisco, CA? Explore:
Cities near San Francisco, CA: | Cost of Living in Oakland, California | 10.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Piedmont, California | 12.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Berkeley, California | 13.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Alameda, California | 15.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Rafael, California | 18.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Mateo, California | 21.47 miles |
| Cost of Living in Belmont, California | 24.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Walnut Creek, California | 24.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Redwood City, California | 26.16 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hayward, California | 26.70 miles |
Cities near Chiang Mai: | Cost of Living in Chiang Rai | 116.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Phitsanulok | 242.68 miles |