Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cauayan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cauayan City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $685 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,058 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,431 in Cauayan City, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Cauayan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Cauayan City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Cauayan City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.58 ₱221

-45.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$13.51 ₱833

37.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$2.59 ₱160

201.93%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.32 ₱143

-15.95%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.30 ₱18.78

183.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.31 ₱18.85

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.05 ₱64.7

102.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.76 ₱108

111.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.71 ₱106

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.25 ₱77.2

30.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.93 ₱57.2

22.58%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.48 ₱91.1

30.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.01 ₱309

223.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.90 ₱241

-20.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.04 ₱434

54.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.15 ₱133

27.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.78 ₱48.25

55.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.10 ₱130

-22.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.73 ₱45.15

117.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.90 ₱55.7

55.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.35 ₱83.1

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.71 ₱43.81

-7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.70 ₱42.92

-24.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.63 ₱162

78.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.87 ₱547

110.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.03 ₱63.7

74.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.19 ₱135

47.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.28 ₱17.28

221.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.91 ₱55.9

54.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.22 ₱13.49

486.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.34 ₱145

235.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.10 ₱68.0

15.45%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$17.5K ₱1.1M

21.76%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$20.1K ₱1.2M

10.48%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$88.0 ₱5,427

-21.51%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$34.44 ₱2,123

-59.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$26.71 ₱1,647

-32.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$33.97 ₱2,095

20.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.45 ₱274

56.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.27 ₱263

38.64%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$53.5 ₱3,296

459.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,768 ₱109.0K

745.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$26.40 ₱1,628

107.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$21.60 ₱1,332

23.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$53.4 ₱3,292

59.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$46.75 ₱2,883

51.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$264 ₱16.3K

62.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$176 ₱10.9K

34.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$586 ₱36.2K

36.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$400 ₱24.6K

28.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,635 ₱162.5K

-25.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,073 ₱66.2K

37.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$214 ₱13.2K

188.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

11.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cauayan City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $264 in Cauayan City. 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 188% 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 $14.00 in Cauayan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $166 – making Cauayan City 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 Cauayan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $685 in Cauayan City – roughly 26% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,028 in Cauayan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cauayan City, 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $685 in Cauayan City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $53.5 in Cauayan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $685 in Cauayan City, 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 $685 in Cauayan City to $866 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 Cauayan City. 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.