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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $555 in Dasmarinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $974 in Dasmarinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,393 in Dasmarinas, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Dasmarinas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Dasmarinas 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.1

$3.58 ₱216

-45.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$13.40 ₱812

37.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$2.64 ₱160

198.11%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.57 ₱94.9

24.20%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.53 ₱32.26

60.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.33 ₱20.20

-3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.04 ₱62.8

105.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$1.31 ₱79.5

180.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.60 ₱96.9

3.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$1.06 ₱64.1

47.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$0.85 ₱51.7

40.00%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$1.99 ₱121

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$5.69 ₱345

185.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$3.72 ₱225

-14.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$8.02 ₱485

35.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$2.68 ₱163

-1.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$1.41 ₱85.2

-13.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$1.80 ₱109

-8.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$0.70 ₱42.13

121.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$1.03 ₱62.5

29.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$2.23 ₱135

-45.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$0.73 ₱44.24

-6.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$0.43 ₱25.82

32.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$2.14 ₱130

118.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

$9.08 ₱550

87.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.07 ₱65.0

70.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

$2.37 ₱143

34.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.28 ₱17.03

225.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

$4.31 ₱261

334.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

$0.86 ₱52.1

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

$0.24 ₱14.54

458.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

$2.33 ₱141

249.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$1.11 ₱67.1

15.32%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

$32.2K ₱1.9M

-32.15%

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

$20.1K ₱1.2M

11.62%

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$43.24 ₱2,618

63.00%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$34.85 ₱2,110

-59.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$26.41 ₱1,599

-33.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$11.67 ₱707

253.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

$4.32 ₱262

56.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

$5.65 ₱342

5.49%

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

$303 ฿9,928

$153 ₱9,233

98.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

$4,719 ₱285.7K

216.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

$48.98 ₱2,965

11.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

$27.53 ₱1,667

-4.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

$76.5 ₱4,632

12.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

$46.91 ₱2,840

48.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$265 ₱16.0K

61.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$85.3 ₱5,163

180.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$589 ₱35.7K

37.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$402 ₱24.3K

26.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

$392 ₱23.7K

283.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

$379 ₱22.9K

64.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

-21.88%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $265 in Dasmarinas. 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 64% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $13.00 in Dasmarinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $174 – making Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Dasmarinas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $833 in Dasmarinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $153 in Dasmarinas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $555 in Dasmarinas, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dasmarinas costs $555 versus $848 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 Dasmarinas. 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.