Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Iloilo

For one person, living is cheaper in Iloilo: $693 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 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
33

Cost of Living Index in Iloilo
Learn more

Iloilo Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$906

/mo nomad

Iloilo

🇵🇭 Philippines

$693

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Iloilo

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

A single person spends $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $693 in Iloilo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $906
Iloilo $693

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,054 in Iloilo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,385
Iloilo $1,054

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,416 in Iloilo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,864
Iloilo $1,416

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Iloilo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chiang Mai and Iloilo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Iloilo 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

$2.83 ₱177

-24.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿649

$19.43 ₱1,219

-0.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿183

$3.15 ₱198

73.65%

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.4

$2.09 ₱131

-19.62%

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

$0.66 ฿22.10

$0.65 ₱40.93

1.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ฿11.52

$0.34 ₱21.39

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.0

$1.06 ₱66.6

128.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿125

$1.81 ₱113

106.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ฿68.9

$1.69 ₱106

21.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿48.78

$1.20 ₱75.1

21.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿45.09

$0.84 ₱52.9

60.71%

Eggs

$2.27 ฿76.0

$2.06 ₱129

10.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 ฿546

$6.05 ₱379

169.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 ฿90.3

$4.04 ₱254

-33.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 ฿308

$6.18 ₱388

48.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.1

$3.32 ₱208

-28.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.66

$1.04 ₱65.3

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.7

$3.06 ₱192

-47.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ฿48.37

$1.38 ₱86.4

4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.59

$2.39 ₱150

-45.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.29

$2.71 ₱170

-59.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.55

$1.47 ₱92.4

-52.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.99

$0.81 ₱50.8

-37.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ฿138

$2.99 ₱188

38.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$6.19 ₱388

187.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.7

$1.10 ₱68.8

48.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ฿96.0

$1.26 ₱78.8

127.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.76

$0.24 ₱15.09

258.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,780

$4.59 ₱288

1057.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.81

$0.82 ₱51.4

48.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.81

$0.34 ₱21.10

64.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.5

$2.36 ₱148

-2.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿50.2

$1.16 ₱72.9

29.31%

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

$20.9K ฿698.3K

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-4.21%

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

$26.7K ฿895.0K

$19.5K ₱1.2M

36.85%

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

$61.3 ฿2,051

$64.5 ₱4,044

-4.98%

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

$12.50 ฿419

$9.82 ₱616

27.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿682

$27.65 ₱1,734

-26.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,270

$9.76 ₱612

288.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿221

$4.70 ₱295

40.43%

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

$774 ฿25.9K

$31.77 ₱1,993

2336.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿483.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,835

$23.50 ₱1,474

133.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿846

$17.74 ₱1,113

42.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,032

$55.5 ₱3,480

63.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,453

$23.96 ₱1,503

205.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ฿15.4K

$308 ₱19.3K

48.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,835

$246 ₱15.4K

19.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 ฿30.8K

$1,184 ₱74.3K

-22.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

$436 ₱27.4K

26.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 ฿64.2K

$3,633 ₱227.9K

-47.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.4K

$1,055 ₱66.2K

36.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.8K

$206 ₱12.9K

187.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.33

-24.01%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$294 31.8%

Iloilo

$246 35.8% 16.2% $48

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$236 25.6%

Iloilo

$188 27.3% 20.4% $48

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.9%

Iloilo

$54 7.9% 50.5% $55

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Iloilo

$102 14.8% 8.3% $7.8

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.4%

Iloilo

$70 10.2% 9.3% $7.2

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Iloilo

$8.1 1.2% 86.7% $53

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Iloilo

$19 2.8% 62.5% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $308 in Iloilo. 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 188% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Iloilo. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Chiang Mai vs $188 in Iloilo – so Iloilo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Iloilo

🕒 Local time

13:45 1:45 PM

14:45 2:45 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

457,626

💱 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 = 1.42 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 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Iloilo 2,690 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Iloilo

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 Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Iloilo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,040 in Iloilo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $774 per month in Chiang Mai and $31.77 in Iloilo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iloilo, where all-in costs run around $693, than in Chiang Mai at $906. In Iloilo 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. Iloilo costs $693 versus $906 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 Iloilo. 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.