Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Iligan City

For one person, living is cheaper in Iligan City: $744 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
35

Cost of Living Index in Iligan City
Learn more

Iligan City Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Iligan City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$744

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Iligan City

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 Iligan City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $744 in Iligan City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Iligan City $744

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,121 in Iligan City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Iligan City $1,121

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,498 in Iligan City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Iligan City $1,498

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Iligan City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Iligan City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Iligan City 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$3.82 ₱241

-40.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$14.87 ₱936

32.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$2.74 ₱172

104.74%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.44 ₱154

-31.97%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.67 ₱42.23

4.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.33 ₱21.02

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.13 ₱71.1

113.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$1.99 ₱126

86.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.92 ₱121

1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.11 ₱69.8

27.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$0.93 ₱58.3

40.86%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.94 ₱122

12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$5.55 ₱349

200.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$4.24 ₱267

-34.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$7.03 ₱443

29.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$2.44 ₱154

-2.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$1.59 ₱100

-35.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.41 ₱152

-32.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.18 ₱74.4

27.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$1.98 ₱125

-34.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.97 ₱124

-43.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$1.00 ₱62.7

-28.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.54 ₱33.96

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$3.33 ₱209

29.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$7.75 ₱488

131.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$0.98 ₱61.9

61.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$1.94 ₱122

46.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.24 ₱14.97

258.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$10.68 ₱673

398.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$0.73 ₱45.73

65.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.24 ₱15.09

137.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$2.05 ₱129

14.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.27 ₱79.7

13.39%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$20.7K ₱1.3M

0.00%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$20.6K ₱1.3M

30.32%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$127 ₱7,992

-50.90%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$15.20 ₱957

-20.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$24.59 ₱1,548

-18.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$32.05 ₱2,018

15.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$4.84 ₱305

-21.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$5.09 ₱321

27.70%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$146 ₱9,209

441.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$6,850 ₱431.3K

116.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$32.15 ₱2,024

67.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$21.34 ₱1,344

15.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$70.8 ₱4,455

28.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$61.7 ₱3,884

15.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$111 ₱7,004

309.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$173 ₱10.9K

72.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$507 ₱31.9K

79.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$347 ₱21.9K

59.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$2,447 ₱154.1K

-21.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$866 ₱54.5K

66.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$194 ₱12.2K

204.34%

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 Iligan City: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Iligan City

$173 23.3% 41.9% $125

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Iligan City

$183 24.6% 22.4% $53

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Iligan City

$84 11.3% 22.6% $24

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Iligan City

$167 22.4% 76.7% $72

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Iligan City

$82 11% 4.1% $3.2

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Iligan City

$14 1.8% 77.7% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Iligan City

$42 5.7% 15.6% $7.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $111 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 204% 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: $235 vs $183 – making Iligan City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Iligan City

🕒 Local time

18:42 6:42 PM

19:42 7:42 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

342,618

💱 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 Iligan City 2,970 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Iligan City

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 Iligan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Iligan City, 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 $1,115 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 $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $146 in Iligan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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 $744, than in Chiang Mai at $925. 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 $744 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 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.