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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $527 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,043 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,560 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Cabanatuan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Cabanatuan 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$4.50 ₱273

-56.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$35.28 ₱2,142

-46.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.57 ₱217

117.09%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.91 ₱177

-34.02%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.85 ₱51.9

-7.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.48 ₱29.30

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.48 ₱89.7

49.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.59 ₱157

41.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.95 ₱119

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.61 ₱98.0

1.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.98 ₱59.6

21.43%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.02 ₱122

-0.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$3.62 ₱220

341.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.15 ₱191

-3.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$6.66 ₱404

63.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$4.19 ₱255

-34.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.28 ₱77.4

-7.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.93 ₱117

-15.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.77 ₱46.80

97.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.44 ₱87.3

-4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.45 ₱88.3

-17.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.04 ₱62.9

-32.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.84 ₱51.2

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.87 ₱174

59.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$5.66 ₱344

192.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.75 ₱45.61

144.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.81 ₱110

76.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.28 ₱17.01

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.70 ₱42.34

94.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.22 ₱13.28

509.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.87 ₱52.9

801.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.11 ₱67.6

10.81%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$28.5K ₱1.7M

-24.08%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$17.6K ₱1.1M

28.33%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$58.3 ₱3,538

21.08%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$21.16 ₱1,285

-35.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$25.19 ₱1,529

-30.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$12.32 ₱748

235.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$2.72 ₱165

155.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$6.73 ₱408

-14.26%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$152 ₱9,245

101.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$4,256 ₱258.4K

243.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$26.79 ₱1,627

108.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$33.81 ₱2,053

-22.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$61.0 ₱3,703

40.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$46.37 ₱2,816

55.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$268 ₱16.3K

60.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$44.88 ₱2,725

431.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$591 ₱35.9K

38.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$391 ₱23.7K

30.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$226 ₱13.7K

555.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$206 ₱12.5K

199.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

-18.96%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $268 in Cabanatuan. 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 200% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Cabanatuan. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $175 in Cabanatuan – so Cabanatuan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Cabanatuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai, $527 in Cabanatuan – roughly 65% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $791 in Cabanatuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $35.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $527 in Cabanatuan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $527 in Cabanatuan to $869 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cabanatuan. 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.