Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Magallanes, Cavite Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Magallanes, Cavite

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $778 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,216 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,653 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.58 ₱221

-45.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$18.07 ₱1,114

3.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.27 ₱202

139.14%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.42 ₱149

-19.42%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.77 ₱47.65

10.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.39 ₱24.15

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.34 ₱82.8

58.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.18 ₱135

71.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.88 ₱116

-9.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.21 ₱74.6

34.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.01 ₱62.2

12.87%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.02 ₱124

-4.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.80 ₱481

107.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.28 ₱264

-27.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.94 ₱490

37.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.99 ₱185

-8.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.60 ₱98.5

-24.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.67 ₱165

-39.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.62 ₱99.7

-1.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.22 ₱137

-36.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.52 ₱156

-53.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.11 ₱68.3

-40.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.72 ₱44.68

-26.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.80 ₱173

67.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$7.68 ₱474

142.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.15 ₱71.0

56.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.96 ₱121

64.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.26 ₱15.87

246.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.81 ₱50.1

74.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.24 ₱14.84

437.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.11 ₱130

271.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.13 ₱69.8

12.39%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$26.3K ₱1.6M

-18.97%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$20.3K ₱1.3M

9.31%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$111 ₱6,819

-37.54%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$32.74 ₱2,019

-56.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$27.08 ₱1,670

-33.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$33.69 ₱2,077

21.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.51 ₱278

54.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.85 ₱361

1.20%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$151 ₱9,308

98.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$4,337 ₱267.4K

244.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$45.84 ₱2,827

19.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$26.69 ₱1,646

0.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$74.6 ₱4,603

13.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$53.5 ₱3,300

31.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$264 ₱16.3K

62.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$175 ₱10.8K

35.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$589 ₱36.3K

36.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$401 ₱24.7K

28.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,646 ₱163.2K

-25.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,110 ₱68.5K

32.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-25.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $264 in Magallanes, Cavite. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $205 – making Magallanes, Cavite 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 Magallanes, Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Magallanes, Cavite, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,167 in Magallanes, Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $18.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $778 in Magallanes, Cavite, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Magallanes, Cavite costs $778 versus $866 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 Magallanes, Cavite. 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.