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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $725 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,099 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,473 in Cauayan City, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Cauayan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Cauayan City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Cauayan City 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.89 ₱244

-46.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$16.58 ₱1,039

19.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.89 ₱181

100.35%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.84 ₱115

-0.54%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.60 ₱37.82

30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.34 ₱21.40

-8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$0.98 ₱61.3

138.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.59 ₱99.5

132.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.63 ₱102

24.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.17 ₱73.3

36.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.98 ₱61.3

44.90%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.12 ₱133

2.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$5.07 ₱318

213.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.51 ₱220

-12.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$8.14 ₱510

21.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.31 ₱145

13.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.54 ₱96.7

-28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.32 ₱145

-29.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.07 ₱67.3

42.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.74 ₱109

-28.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.74 ₱109

-35.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.61 ₱38.42

21.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.53 ₱33.53

-5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.00 ₱188

42.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$8.95 ₱561

100.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.92 ₱57.9

84.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.00 ₱125

45.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.25 ₱15.63

276.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$11.35 ₱712

387.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.79 ₱49.46

55.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.25 ₱15.70

112.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.95 ₱122

23.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.92 ₱57.8

56.52%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-2.19%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$19.7K ₱1.2M

38.28%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$140 ₱8,755

-53.51%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$10.73 ₱673

24.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$23.29 ₱1,460

-10.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$32.52 ₱2,038

24.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$4.90 ₱307

-19.39%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$5.32 ₱333

26.13%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$134 ₱8,389

488.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$10.9K ₱682.7K

38.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$28.78 ₱1,804

95.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$19.30 ₱1,210

29.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$56.6 ₱3,546

63.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$56.6 ₱3,550

32.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$273 ₱17.1K

77.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$170 ₱10.7K

68.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$497 ₱31.1K

83.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$354 ₱22.2K

49.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,645 ₱165.8K

-25.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,059 ₱66.4K

37.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cauayan City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $273 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Cauayan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $177 – 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: $950 in Chiang Mai, $725 in Cauayan City – roughly 31% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,087 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.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $134 in Cauayan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cauayan City, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Cauayan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $725 in Cauayan City to $950 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.