Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Laoag City

For one person, living is cheaper in Laoag City: $731 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 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 Laoag City
Learn more

Laoag City Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Laoag City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$731

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Laoag 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 Laoag City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $731 in Laoag City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Laoag City $731

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,115 in Laoag City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Laoag City $1,115

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,499 in Laoag City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Laoag City $1,499

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Laoag City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Laoag City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Laoag City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$3.95 ₱248

-42.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$16.45 ₱1,035

19.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$2.74 ₱173

104.74%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.28 ₱143

-27.19%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.65 ₱41.08

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.33 ₱20.90

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.16 ₱73.3

107.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$1.91 ₱120

94.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.69 ₱107

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.16 ₱72.9

21.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$0.97 ₱61.2

35.05%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.93 ₱122

12.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$5.63 ₱355

195.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$4.07 ₱256

-32.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$6.89 ₱434

32.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$2.42 ₱152

-1.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$1.61 ₱101

-36.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.36 ₱148

-30.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.18 ₱74.4

27.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$1.93 ₱122

-33.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.91 ₱120

-41.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.92 ₱58.2

-21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.53 ₱33.64

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$2.89 ₱182

49.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$7.66 ₱482

134.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$0.93 ₱58.8

69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$1.94 ₱122

46.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.26 ₱16.50

230.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$11.25 ₱709

373.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$0.79 ₱50.0

53.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.22 ₱13.85

159.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$1.95 ₱123

20.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$0.97 ₱60.8

48.45%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$21.5K ₱1.4M

-3.70%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$19.5K ₱1.2M

37.35%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$122 ₱7,674

-48.86%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$15.30 ₱963

-20.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$24.16 ₱1,521

-17.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$32.19 ₱2,027

15.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$4.68 ₱295

-19.23%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$5.29 ₱333

22.87%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$134 ₱8,463

489.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$7,879 ₱496.1K

87.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$33.37 ₱2,101

61.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$19.56 ₱1,231

25.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$71.8 ₱4,519

26.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$55.9 ₱3,521

27.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$267 ₱16.8K

70.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$172 ₱10.8K

73.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$521 ₱32.8K

74.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$361 ₱22.7K

53.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$2,415 ₱152.1K

-20.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$1,009 ₱63.5K

43.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$162 ₱10.2K

264.29%

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 Laoag City: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Laoag City

$172 23.5% 42.4% $126

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Laoag City

$179 24.5% 24.1% $57

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Laoag City

$81 11.1% 24.8% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Laoag City

$161 22.1% 71% $67

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Laoag City

$81 11.1% 2.7% $2.1

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Laoag City

$14 1.9% 76.6% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Laoag City

$43 5.9% 14.5% $7.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $267 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 264% 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 $16.00 in Laoag City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $179 – making Laoag City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Laoag City

🕒 Local time

18:41 6:41 PM

19:41 7:41 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

112,117

💱 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 Laoag City 2,280 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Laoag 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 Laoag City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Laoag 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 $1,096 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 $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $134 in Laoag City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $731, than in Chiang Mai at $925. 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 $731 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 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.