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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $730 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,121 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,511 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.71 ₱232

-43.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$16.89 ₱1,059

17.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.78 ₱174

108.27%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.15 ₱135

-14.88%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.59 ₱36.98

32.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.34 ₱21.42

-8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.07 ₱67.2

118.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.85 ₱116

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.67 ₱105

21.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.16 ₱72.6

37.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.95 ₱59.9

49.47%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.89 ₱119

15.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$5.29 ₱331

200.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.16 ₱261

-26.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.05 ₱442

40.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.32 ₱145

13.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.59 ₱99.8

-30.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.35 ₱147

-30.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.19 ₱74.8

28.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.05 ₱129

-39.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.97 ₱123

-42.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.83 ₱51.9

-10.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.56 ₱35.00

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.93 ₱184

46.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.84 ₱491

129.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.94 ₱58.9

80.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.93 ₱121

50.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.25 ₱15.61

276.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$11.32 ₱710

388.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.77 ₱48.12

59.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.23 ₱14.42

130.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.90 ₱119

26.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.16 ₱72.9

24.14%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-0.11%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$19.3K ₱1.2M

41.24%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$123 ₱7,705

-47.17%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$15.20 ₱953

-12.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$24.77 ₱1,553

-15.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$32.34 ₱2,027

24.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$4.82 ₱302

-18.05%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$5.13 ₱322

30.80%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$134 ₱8,428

485.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,966 ₱499.4K

89.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$31.67 ₱1,985

77.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$19.75 ₱1,238

26.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$71.5 ₱4,482

29.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$56.1 ₱3,517

33.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$272 ₱17.1K

77.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$171 ₱10.7K

67.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$493 ₱30.9K

84.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$347 ₱21.7K

52.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,591 ₱162.4K

-23.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,051 ₱65.9K

38.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $272 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $178 – 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 30% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,095 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.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $134 in Magallanes, Cavite. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% 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 Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $730, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Magallanes, Cavite 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. Magallanes, Cavite costs $730 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 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.