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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $724 in Iligan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,112 in Iligan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,499 in Iligan City, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$3.80 ₱238

-45.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$15.11 ₱945

29.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$2.86 ₱179

97.55%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.02 ₱126

-10.40%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.58 ₱36.30

22.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.32 ₱19.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.12 ₱70.3

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.91 ₱120

90.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$2.02 ₱126

-2.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.16 ₱72.6

29.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$0.91 ₱57.0

47.25%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.97 ₱123

14.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$5.40 ₱338

201.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.46 ₱279

-33.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$7.02 ₱439

41.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$2.38 ₱149

7.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.56 ₱97.6

-32.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.44 ₱153

-34.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.17 ₱73.2

29.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$2.06 ₱129

-38.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$2.01 ₱125

-46.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.77 ₱48.09

-6.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.53 ₱33.23

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.09 ₱193

35.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.93 ₱496

125.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.94 ₱58.7

79.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.70 ₱106

67.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.25 ₱15.45

272.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$11.85 ₱741

354.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.75 ₱46.98

64.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.23 ₱14.10

152.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.83 ₱114

32.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.10 ₱68.6

28.18%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$24.6K ₱1.5M

-12.98%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$17.3K ₱1.1M

57.90%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$110 ₱6,883

-42.14%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$15.02 ₱939

-14.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$24.78 ₱1,550

-18.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$32.53 ₱2,035

19.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$5.39 ₱337

-26.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$5.32 ₱333

26.69%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$141 ₱8,837

450.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$7,245 ₱453.1K

101.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$31.78 ₱1,987

70.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$17.11 ₱1,070

48.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$70.7 ₱4,424

33.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$54.2 ₱3,392

35.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$114 ₱7,101

331.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$171 ₱10.7K

69.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$509 ₱31.8K

75.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$346 ₱21.7K

49.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,738 ₱171.2K

-28.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,143 ₱71.5K

29.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$199 ₱12.5K

202.14%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Iligan City: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $114 in Iligan 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 202% 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 $15.00 in Iligan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $183 – making Iligan 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 Iligan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Iligan City, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,087 in Iligan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $141 in Iligan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% 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 Iligan City, where all-in costs run around $724, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Iligan City 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. Iligan City costs $724 versus $947 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 Iligan 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.