How much cheaper is Chiang Mai than San Francisco?
A comfortable single-person budget in Chiang Mai runs around $1,100/month versus roughly $5,400/month in San Francisco — about 80% less, the single biggest gap in this comparison set. Rent alone is typically over 6x cheaper.
Do US citizens still owe US tax while living in Chiang Mai?
Yes — US citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of residence, one of the only countries with citizenship-based taxation. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion can shelter a meaningful chunk of foreign-earned income if you qualify, but it doesn't eliminate the filing obligation.
What's the catch with cities this much cheaper?
The catch usually isn't cost, it's practical logistics: visa runs every 60 days without a long-stay option, a large time-zone gap from US business hours, and no legal right to take local employment. It works well for remote employees and location-independent business owners, less well for anyone needing to be reachable on US daytime hours.