Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Antipolo Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Antipolo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $635 in Antipolo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,024 in Antipolo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,412 in Antipolo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 47% more than Antipolo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Antipolo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Antipolo 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$5.54 ₱347

-62.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$18.90 ₱1,185

3.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$2.74 ₱172

106.93%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.85 ₱116

-2.16%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.66 ₱41.11

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.54 ₱33.58

-35.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$0.97 ₱60.6

127.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.63 ₱102

132.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.68 ₱106

22.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.11 ₱69.6

36.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.01 ₱63.1

38.61%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.07 ₱129

9.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$5.05 ₱317

220.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$3.48 ₱218

-16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$7.08 ₱444

33.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.35 ₱210

-20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.55 ₱97.3

-29.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.32 ₱145

-30.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.07 ₱67.0

36.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$1.65 ₱103

-22.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.72 ₱108

-38.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.61 ₱38.46

18.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.50 ₱31.12

6.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.89 ₱181

46.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$8.90 ₱558

105.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$0.96 ₱60.3

69.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.05 ₱129

41.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.76 ₱47.54

53.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.21 ₱13.14

176.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$1.93 ₱121

23.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.16 ₱72.6

25.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-2.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$19.5K ₱1.2M

35.18%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,116

$121 ₱7,567

-47.29%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.89 ฿429

$15.34 ₱961

-15.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$22.97 ₱1,440

-10.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$47.56 ₱2,980

-17.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.22 ₱327

26.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.1K

$131 ₱8,213

498.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$8,755 ₱548.6K

67.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$29.28 ₱1,835

88.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$19.39 ₱1,215

27.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$71.9 ₱4,508

30.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$55.8 ₱3,496

32.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$156 ₱9,784

214.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$79.1 ₱4,954

264.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$317 ₱19.9K

181.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$238 ₱14.9K

118.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$2,909 ₱182.3K

-32.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,188 ₱74.4K

21.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$423 ₱26.5K

42.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.75

-17.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Antipolo: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $156 in Antipolo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Antipolo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $178 – making Antipolo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Antipolo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 47% more than Antipolo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $953 in Antipolo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Antipolo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $635 in Antipolo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $131 in Antipolo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Antipolo, where all-in costs run around $635, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Antipolo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Antipolo costs $635 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Antipolo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.