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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $679 in Legazpi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,021 in Legazpi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,363 in Legazpi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than Legazpi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.10 ₱195

-32.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$16.59 ₱1,040

19.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.73 ₱171

112.09%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.99 ₱124

-8.04%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.39 ₱24.14

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.31 ₱19.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.07 ₱66.8

118.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.21 ₱139

67.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.56 ₱98.0

30.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.19 ₱74.6

34.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.86 ₱53.8

65.12%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.94 ₱121

12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$5.53 ₱347

187.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.21 ₱264

-27.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.19 ₱451

37.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.33 ₱146

12.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.54 ₱96.5

-28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.44 ₱153

-33.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.13 ₱70.7

35.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.05 ₱129

-39.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$2.04 ₱128

-44.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.76 ₱47.65

-2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.56 ₱35.18

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.86 ₱179

49.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$8.23 ₱516

118.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.05 ₱65.9

61.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.02 ₱126

43.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.20 ₱12.53

370.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$10.99 ₱689

403.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.78 ₱48.96

57.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.23 ₱14.35

130.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.88 ₱118

27.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.02 ₱64.0

41.18%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$21.1K ₱1.3M

0.40%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$19.3K ₱1.2M

41.36%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$151 ₱9,458

-56.96%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$15.31 ₱960

-12.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$32.55 ₱2,040

-36.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$31.87 ₱1,998

26.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$4.75 ₱298

-16.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$5.33 ₱334

25.89%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$136 ₱8,505

480.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,946 ₱498.2K

90.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$31.78 ₱1,993

76.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$19.64 ₱1,231

27.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$62.9 ₱3,944

47.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$57.1 ₱3,582

31.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$145 ₱9,059

234.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$96.8 ₱6,066

196.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$338 ₱21.2K

169.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$203 ₱12.7K

161.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,573 ₱161.3K

-23.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,034 ₱64.8K

40.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$270 ₱16.9K

124.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.12

-44.96%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Legazpi: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $145 in Legazpi. 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 124% 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 Legazpi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $180 – making Legazpi 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 Legazpi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than Legazpi, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,019 in Legazpi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $136 in Legazpi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 Legazpi, where all-in costs run around $679, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Legazpi 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. Legazpi costs $679 versus $950 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 Legazpi. 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.