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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $742 in Laoag City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,099 in Laoag City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,456 in Laoag City, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Laoag City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Laoag City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Laoag City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$3.67 ₱229

-43.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$13.66 ₱854

43.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$2.85 ₱178

98.25%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.23 ₱139

-18.83%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.57 ₱35.71

24.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.34 ₱20.99

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.12 ₱69.8

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.92 ₱120

89.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.63 ₱102

20.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.11 ₱69.5

35.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$0.97 ₱60.5

38.14%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.05 ₱128

10.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$5.39 ₱337

201.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.76 ₱423

-56.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$7.02 ₱439

41.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$2.36 ₱148

8.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.52 ₱95.1

-30.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.33 ₱146

-30.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.18 ₱74.0

28.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$2.01 ₱126

-36.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$2.07 ₱130

-48.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.83 ₱51.9

-13.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.56 ₱35.24

-8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.80 ₱175

49.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$8.18 ₱512

118.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.93 ₱58.4

81.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.00 ₱125

42.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.27 ₱16.81

244.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$10.46 ₱654

414.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.77 ₱48.41

59.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.24 ₱15.03

141.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$2.15 ₱135

12.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.01 ₱63.1

39.60%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$21.4K ₱1.3M

0.24%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$19.1K ₱1.2M

43.45%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$125 ₱7,788

-48.88%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$17.07 ₱1,067

-24.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$23.95 ₱1,498

-15.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$13.41 ₱838

188.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$5.02 ₱314

-20.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$5.15 ₱322

30.87%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$131 ₱8,200

493.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$7,205 ₱450.6K

102.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$31.88 ₱1,994

70.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$19.29 ₱1,206

31.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$71.8 ₱4,491

31.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$55.1 ₱3,447

33.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$269 ₱16.8K

82.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$187 ₱11.7K

54.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$386 ₱24.1K

131.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$350 ₱21.9K

47.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,632 ₱164.6K

-25.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,057 ₱66.1K

39.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$161 ₱10.1K

274.16%

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 Laoag City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $269 in Laoag 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 274% 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 $14.00 in Laoag City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $192 – making Laoag 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 Laoag City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Laoag 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 $1,113 in Laoag City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Laoag 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 $131 in Laoag City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Laoag City, where all-in costs run around $742, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Laoag 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. Laoag City costs $742 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 Laoag 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.