Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Binan City

For one person, living is cheaper in Binan City: $724 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
35

Cost of Living Index in Binan City
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Binan City Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Binan City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$724

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Binan City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Binan City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $724 in Binan City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Binan City $724

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,095 in Binan City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Binan City $1,095

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,467 in Binan City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Binan City $1,467

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Binan City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Binan City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Binan City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.8

$3.95 ₱251

-46.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿626

$16.37 ₱1,041

13.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$2.70 ₱172

107.41%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

$1.81 ₱115

-8.29%

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

$0.65 ฿21.75

$0.59 ₱37.77

10.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.25

$0.31 ₱19.60

-3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.1

$0.93 ₱59.4

149.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$1.58 ₱101

132.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.66 ₱106

21.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.34

$1.11 ₱70.5

27.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.79

$1.00 ₱63.9

39.00%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.6

$2.03 ₱129

16.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

$4.75 ₱302

247.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.8

$3.45 ₱219

-22.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$6.68 ₱425

35.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

$2.39 ₱152

0.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.01

$1.53 ₱97.1

-32.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.8

$2.38 ₱151

-30.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$1.01 ₱64.3

54.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.61

$1.65 ₱105

-24.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.53

$1.57 ₱99.9

-30.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.61

$0.93 ₱59.3

-18.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.29

$0.53 ₱33.82

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$2.59 ₱165

59.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿603

$7.75 ₱492

131.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.6

$0.89 ₱56.7

82.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.9

$1.95 ₱124

44.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.42

$0.24 ₱15.34

287.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,778

$12.31 ₱783

329.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.56

$0.66 ₱41.93

78.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

$0.22 ₱13.98

-22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.85 ₱117

-2.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.51

$1.20 ₱76.0

22.50%

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

$21.0K ฿706.4K

$21.1K ₱1.3M

-0.25%

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

$26.5K ฿891.4K

$19.1K ₱1.2M

38.96%

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

$62.6 ฿2,103

$136 ₱8,678

-54.17%

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

$11.60 ฿390

$15.50 ₱985

-25.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿683

$31.05 ₱1,974

-34.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,274

$31.82 ₱2,023

19.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$5.11 ₱325

-27.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

$5.10 ₱324

27.65%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$129 ₱8,191

464.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿557.2K

$7,277 ₱462.6K

127.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,800

$27.80 ₱1,767

92.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿834

$19.14 ₱1,217

29.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,039

$70.7 ₱4,498

27.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,420

$54.4 ₱3,457

32.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$254 ₱16.1K

89.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$164 ₱10.5K

88.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.6K

$485 ₱30.8K

118.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$354 ₱22.5K

86.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.3K

$2,619 ₱166.5K

-7.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.1K

$1,096 ₱69.7K

46.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Binan City: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Binan City

$164 22.7% 47% $146

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Binan City

$169 23.4% 28.5% $68

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Binan City

$77 10.7% 28.5% $31

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Binan City

$183 25.3% 93.8% $89

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Binan City

$73 10.1% 4.8% $3.7

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Binan City

$15 2.1% 74.4% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Binan City

$42 5.8% 17.5% $8.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $254 in Binan City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $16 in Binan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $169 – making Binan City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Binan City

🕒 Local time

06:50 6:50 AM

07:50 7:50 AM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

407,037

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.4 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 63.58 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.57 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Binan City 2,400 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Binan City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Binan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 29%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,086 in Binan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Binan City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $254 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $129 in Binan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward Binan City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

For expats, Binan City is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 23% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.