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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $667 in Imus, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $980 in Imus, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,293 in Imus, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Imus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Imus are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Imus 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$3.92 ₱245

-46.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$16.69 ₱1,045

17.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$2.79 ₱174

102.51%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.94 ₱121

-6.70%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.60 ₱37.70

18.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.32 ₱20.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$0.98 ₱61.1

128.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.72 ₱107

111.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.62 ₱101

20.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$1.15 ₱72.1

30.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.02 ₱64.1

31.37%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$2.01 ₱126

12.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$5.08 ₱318

220.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.39 ₱212

-12.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$7.97 ₱499

24.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$2.23 ₱139

15.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.56 ₱97.5

-32.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.35 ₱147

-31.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$1.79 ₱112

-15.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$1.69 ₱106

-24.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$1.80 ₱112

-40.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.62 ₱38.91

16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.53 ₱33.44

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.16 ₱198

32.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$8.91 ₱558

100.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.09 ₱68.4

55.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.07 ₱130

37.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.27 ₱16.75

244.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$10.65 ₱667

405.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.81 ₱51.0

51.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.21 ₱13.09

176.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.89 ₱118

28.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.16 ₱72.7

21.55%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-1.85%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$19.3K ₱1.2M

41.67%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$123 ₱7,691

-48.18%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$15.08 ₱944

-14.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$23.43 ₱1,467

-13.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$27.93 ₱1,749

38.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$4.12 ₱258

-3.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$5.20 ₱325

29.62%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$133 ₱8,344

483.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$9,099 ₱569.6K

60.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$29.17 ₱1,826

86.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$19.35 ₱1,211

31.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$72.6 ₱4,542

30.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$56.0 ₱3,506

31.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$121 ₱7,586

304.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$101 ₱6,298

187.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$201 ₱12.6K

345.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$171 ₱10.7K

202.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,782 ₱174.1K

-29.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$956 ₱59.8K

54.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$173 ₱10.8K

248.18%

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 Imus: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $121 in Imus. 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 248% 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 Imus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $180 – making Imus 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 Imus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Imus, 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 $1,001 in Imus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Imus, 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 $133 in Imus. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 Imus, where all-in costs run around $667, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Imus 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. Imus costs $667 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 Imus. 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.