About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Mohamed Oun
Chiang Mai
#56 of 124
Asia

Chiang Mai

Thailand

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Chiang Mai compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Chiang Mai is 39% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Chiang Mai compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$31,784
-$241K (-88%) vs San Francisco
Based on 246 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$27,016
-$146K (-84%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 15%

Community Insights

New
7.5/10

Chiang Mai remains a top-tier destination for remote software engineers but is less attractive for those seeking local employment. The city offers an unbeatable quality of life for the cost, boasting a vibrant coffee shop working culture and a massive community of like-minded digital professionals. However, the annual burning season is a severe drawback that cannot be ignored; most residents plan to travel elsewhere during these smoky months. While the local job market pays modest wages suitable only for a local lifestyle, remote workers earning foreign currencies thrive here, enjoying luxury living for a fraction of Western costs.

The Good

  • Extremely affordable cost of living, allowing for a high savings rate if earning a Western salary.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Safety Index

Top 5%

#6

of 124 cities

78/100

Current value

Cost of Living

Top 7%

#9

of 124 cities

22/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Top 8%

#10

of 124 cities

15%

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Chiang Mai compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$1,744 / m²
82% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Chiang Mai to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
74% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Chiang Mai

Agoda logo
Agoda
LINE MAN Wongnai logo
LINE MAN Wongnai
KBTG logo
KBTG
  • World-class digital nomad community with abundant coworking spaces and networking events.
  • Cafe culture with high-speed internet makes it easy to work from almost anywhere.
  • Excellent food scene, ranging from $1 street food to high-end international cuisine.
  • Relaxed, slower pace of life compared to the chaotic rush of Bangkok.
  • Proximity to nature, mountains, and waterfalls for weekend exploration.
  • Generally safe environment with low violent crime rates.

    • The Bad

    • Burning season (Feb-April) causes hazardous air pollution, forcing many to leave the city for months.
    • Local tech salaries are significantly lower than Western standards (often 70-80% less).
    • Navigating visa complexity can be stressful without a specific long-term visa (like LTR or Elite).
    • Timezone differences can be challenging for remote work with US-based teams.
    • Limited public transportation; reliance on scooters/Grab is necessary.
    • The 'transient' nature of the expat community can make forming deep, long-term friendships difficult.

    Moving Here

    Moderate

    Moving is relatively straightforward for short stints, but long-term residency requires planning. Visa options include the LTR (Long-Term Resident) visa for high earners ($80k+/year) and the Thai Elite Visa (paid membership). The Language barrier is minimal in daily life as English is widely spoken in service sectors, though Thai is needed for deeper integration. The expat community is huge and welcoming, making social transitions easy.

    Who Is This City For?

    Remote-working software engineers with Western salaries, bootstrappers building their own products, and digital nomads seeking community. Avoid if you require a high-paying local job, have respiratory health issues, or need to work strict 9-to-5 hours in US timezones.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather1.8/10-79% vs San Francisco
    Safety78+97%
    Pollution78+59%
    Events0-100%
    1.8/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    32°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    21°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,512h/yr-549h/yr(-18%)
    Hottest Month High
    36°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    15°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    102/yr+53/yr(+110%)

    Community & Quality

    Chiang Mai community pulse

    Chiang Mai has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Home Affordability

    Top 29%

    #36

    of 124 cities

    ≈5.2 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Middle of the pack

    #56

    of 124 cities

    Community Events

    Bottom 30%

    #88

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    Net Income

    Bottom 22%

    #98

    of 124 cities

    $27,016/yr

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Bottom 14%

    #108

    of 124 cities

    18/100 weather score

    Current value

    Pollution Score

    Bottom 11%

    #111

    of 124 cities

    77.8/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    5.2 years
    0.6 years longer than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    213/yr+213/yr(+106550%)
    Cloud Cover
    61%(vs 34% in San Francisco)