Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cadiz, Philippines

For one person, living is cheaper in Cadiz: $617 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Cadiz, Philippines
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Cadiz
🇵🇭 Philippines
$617
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Cadiz

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 Cadiz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $617 in Cadiz, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Cadiz $617

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $943 in Cadiz, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Cadiz $943

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,269 in Cadiz, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Cadiz $1,269

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Cadiz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Cadiz are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Cadiz 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.8
$2.80 ₱178
-23.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿626
$7.88 ₱501
136.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿188
$3.08 ₱196
81.82%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.37 ₱86.9
21.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.75
$0.38 ₱23.92
71.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.25
$0.32 ₱20.42
-6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿78.1
$1.04 ₱65.9
123.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
$1.71 ₱108
114.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.8
$1.59 ₱101
27.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.34
$1.14 ₱72.2
23.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.79
$0.88 ₱56.3
57.95%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.6
$1.71 ₱109
38.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿555
$5.80 ₱369
184.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.8
$4.02 ₱256
-33.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿303
$6.24 ₱397
44.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.6
$3.18 ₱202
-24.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿35.01
$1.07 ₱68.1
-2.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.8
$2.95 ₱188
-43.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.4
$1.37 ₱86.8
13.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.61
$2.30 ₱146
-46.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.53
$2.71 ₱172
-59.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.61
$0.38 ₱23.89
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.29
$0.82 ₱51.9
-37.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿139
$2.44 ₱155
68.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿603
$6.23 ₱396
187.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.6
$1.07 ₱68.1
51.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.9
$1.27 ₱80.8
122.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.42
$0.22 ₱13.98
322.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,778
$12.17 ₱774
334.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.56
$0.81 ₱51.7
45.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.76
$0.35 ₱22.39
-51.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$2.33 ₱148
-22.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.51
$1.17 ₱74.3
25.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿706.4K
$20.9K ₱1.3M
0.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿891.4K
$19.3K ₱1.2M
37.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,103
$62.1 ₱3,949
0.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿390
$9.55 ₱607
21.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿683
$26.39 ₱1,678
-23.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,274
$31.42 ₱1,998
20.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
$5.31 ₱338
-30.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿219
$4.77 ₱304
36.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.4K
$31.82 ₱2,023
2184.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿557.2K
$7,911 ₱503.0K
109.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,800
$23.23 ₱1,477
130.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿834
$19.10 ₱1,215
29.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,039
$54.0 ₱3,432
67.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,420
$23.63 ₱1,503
204.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.2K
$247 ₱15.7K
94.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$170 ₱10.8K
82.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.6K
$498 ₱31.6K
112.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.1K
$345 ₱21.9K
91.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.3K
$2,622 ₱166.7K
-7.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿54.1K
$1,115 ₱70.9K
44.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿20.0K
$184 ₱11.7K
222.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
7.33
-24.01%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Cadiz: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Cadiz
$170 45.2% $140
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Cadiz
$179 24.4% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Cadiz
$54 50.2% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Cadiz
$98 3.8% $3.6
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Cadiz
$59 22.4% $17
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Cadiz
$16 73.4% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Cadiz
$41 19.5% $9.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $247 in Cadiz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 3.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $8 in Cadiz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $179 – making Cadiz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇵🇭 Cadiz
🕒 Local time
06:29 6:29 AM
07:29 7:29 AM
1 h ahead of Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
154,723
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Cadiz 2,750 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Cadiz

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 Cadiz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Cadiz?
Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Cadiz, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Cadiz?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $925 in Cadiz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Cadiz?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cadiz, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $247 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Cadiz?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Cadiz?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $8 in Cadiz. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Cadiz?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Cadiz, where all-in costs run around $617, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Cadiz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Cadiz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Cadiz?
If budget matters most, go with Cadiz. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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