Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Clark Freeport

For one person, living is cheaper in Clark Freeport: $728 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
35

Cost of Living Index in Clark Freeport
Learn more

Clark Freeport Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Clark Freeport

🇵🇭 Philippines

$728

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Clark Freeport

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

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $728 in Clark Freeport, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Clark Freeport $728

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,107 in Clark Freeport, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Clark Freeport $1,107

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,485 in Clark Freeport, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Clark Freeport $1,485

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Clark Freeport, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Clark Freeport are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Clark Freeport 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$3.79 ₱239

-39.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$16.54 ₱1,042

18.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$2.76 ₱174

103.26%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.27 ₱143

-26.87%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.62 ₱39.17

12.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.31 ₱19.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.17 ₱73.7

105.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$1.90 ₱120

95.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.61 ₱101

21.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.16 ₱72.8

21.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$0.91 ₱57.3

43.96%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.95 ₱123

11.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$5.42 ₱341

207.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$4.20 ₱264

-34.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$7.08 ₱446

28.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$2.35 ₱148

1.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$1.58 ₱99.7

-34.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.43 ₱153

-32.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.12 ₱70.3

33.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$1.95 ₱123

-33.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.95 ₱123

-43.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.92 ₱57.7

-21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.58 ₱36.79

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$3.02 ₱190

42.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$7.75 ₱488

131.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$0.96 ₱60.4

64.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$1.85 ₱117

53.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.20 ₱12.58

330.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$10.93 ₱688

387.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$0.73 ₱46.09

65.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.23 ₱14.53

147.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$1.94 ₱122

21.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.24 ₱78.3

16.13%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-4.11%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$19.2K ₱1.2M

39.92%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$124 ₱7,804

-49.71%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$14.89 ₱937

-18.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$24.30 ₱1,530

-17.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$31.96 ₱2,012

15.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$4.77 ₱300

-20.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$5.27 ₱332

23.34%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$135 ₱8,486

488.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$7,924 ₱498.9K

86.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$33.07 ₱2,082

62.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$19.65 ₱1,237

25.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$71.5 ₱4,503

27.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$56.2 ₱3,536

26.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$266 ₱16.7K

71.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$170 ₱10.7K

75.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$508 ₱32.0K

78.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$351 ₱22.1K

57.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$2,385 ₱150.2K

-19.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$991 ₱62.4K

45.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$313 ₱19.7K

88.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.79

-17.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Clark Freeport: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Clark Freeport

$170 23.4% 42.9% $128

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Clark Freeport

$179 24.5% 24.2% $57

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Clark Freeport

$81 11.2% 24.9% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Clark Freeport

$163 22.4% 72.9% $69

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Clark Freeport

$79 10.9% 0.8% $0.6

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Clark Freeport

$14 1.9% 77.6% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Clark Freeport

$43 5.8% 15.1% $7.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $266 in Clark Freeport. 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 88% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Clark Freeport. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $179 – making Clark Freeport the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Clark Freeport

🕒 Local time

23:12 11:12 PM

00:12 12:12 AM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 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 October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Clark Freeport 2,320 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Clark Freeport

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 Clark Freeport: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Clark Freeport, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,093 in Clark Freeport. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $135 in Clark Freeport. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 Clark Freeport, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Clark Freeport it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Clark Freeport costs $728 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Clark Freeport. 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.