Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Malaybalay

For one person, living is cheaper in Malaybalay: $739 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
36

Cost of Living Index in Malaybalay
Learn more

Malaybalay Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Malaybalay

🇵🇭 Philippines

$739

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Malaybalay

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 Malaybalay actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $739 in Malaybalay, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Malaybalay $739

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,140 in Malaybalay, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Malaybalay $1,140

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,542 in Malaybalay, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Malaybalay $1,542

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Malaybalay, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Malaybalay are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Malaybalay 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.8

$4.55 ₱289

-53.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿626

$16.36 ₱1,040

13.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$3.49 ₱222

60.46%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

$2.14 ₱136

-22.43%

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

$0.65 ฿21.75

$0.45 ₱28.56

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.25

$0.32 ₱20.47

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.1

$1.18 ₱75.3

96.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$2.06 ₱131

78.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.97 ₱125

2.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.34

$1.10 ₱70.1

28.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.79

$0.84 ₱53.5

65.48%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.6

$1.90 ₱121

24.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

$6.31 ₱401

161.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.8

$4.55 ₱289

-41.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$9.02 ₱573

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

$2.70 ₱171

-11.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.01

$1.11 ₱70.6

-6.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.8

$2.39 ₱152

-30.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$1.14 ₱72.3

36.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.61

$1.90 ₱121

-34.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.53

$3.29 ₱209

-66.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.61

$1.24 ₱78.8

-38.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.29

$0.67 ₱42.60

-23.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$2.41 ₱153

70.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿603

$7.89 ₱501

127.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.6

$1.22 ₱77.5

32.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.9

$1.66 ₱106

69.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.42

$0.24 ₱15.27

287.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,778

$12.31 ₱783

329.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.56

$0.79 ₱50.4

49.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

$0.24 ₱15.32

-29.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.91 ₱121

-5.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.51

$1.26 ₱80.3

16.67%

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

$21.0K ฿706.4K

$21.2K ₱1.4M

-1.04%

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

$26.5K ฿891.4K

$18.7K ₱1.2M

41.68%

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

$62.6 ฿2,103

$104 ₱6,590

-39.64%

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

$11.60 ฿390

$19.05 ₱1,211

-39.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿683

$30.84 ₱1,961

-34.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,274

$31.24 ₱1,987

21.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$5.12 ₱325

-27.73%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

$4.80 ₱305

35.63%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$105 ₱6,703

589.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿557.2K

$7,393 ₱470.1K

124.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,800

$32.03 ₱2,036

67.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿834

$19.04 ₱1,211

30.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,039

$71.0 ₱4,513

27.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,420

$59.6 ₱3,792

20.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$250 ₱15.9K

92.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$166 ₱10.5K

86.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.6K

$485 ₱30.8K

118.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$354 ₱22.5K

86.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.3K

$2,659 ₱169.1K

-9.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.1K

$1,116 ₱71.0K

44.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.31

-32.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Malaybalay

$166 22.4% 46.5% $144

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Malaybalay

$196 26.5% 17.1% $40

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Malaybalay

$82 11.1% 24.5% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Malaybalay

$154 20.8% 62.5% $59

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Malaybalay

$86 11.6% 11.9% $9.1

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Malaybalay

$15 2.1% 74% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Malaybalay

$41 5.5% 19.7% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $250 in Malaybalay. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $16 in Malaybalay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $196 – making Malaybalay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Malaybalay

🕒 Local time

07:09 7:09 AM

08:09 8:09 AM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

190,712

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.4 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 November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 63.58 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.57 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Malaybalay 3,060 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Malaybalay

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 Malaybalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Malaybalay, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,109 in Malaybalay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malaybalay, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $250 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $105 in Malaybalay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $739 in Malaybalay, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Malaybalay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Malaybalay is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 21% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.