Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mambajao

For one person, living is cheaper in Mambajao: $508 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
25

Cost of Living Index in Mambajao
Learn more

Mambajao Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$938

/mo nomad

Mambajao

🇵🇭 Philippines

$508

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $508 in Mambajao, rent included.

Chiang Mai $938
Mambajao $508

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $817 in Mambajao, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,426
Mambajao $817

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,126 in Mambajao, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,914
Mambajao $1,126

Chiang Mai costs about 85% more than Mambajao, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Mambajao are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Mambajao 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.36 ₱85.9

66.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 ฿641

$15.83 ₱997

21.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ฿187

$3.40 ₱214

64.41%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ฿57.6

$2.28 ₱144

-24.56%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$0.38 ₱24.02

68.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿11.18

$0.27 ₱16.81

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿78.7

$1.03 ₱64.6

129.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ฿130

$1.12 ₱70.6

248.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.6

$0.90 ₱56.8

127.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ฿46.70

$0.63 ₱39.56

122.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.89

$0.66 ₱41.56

93.94%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.3

$1.26 ₱79.5

78.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.94 ฿566

$5.90 ₱372

187.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 ฿91.6

$4.29 ₱270

-36.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ฿313

$5.50 ₱346

70.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.3

$2.54 ₱160

-5.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ฿33.92

$1.63 ₱103

-38.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.9

$2.24 ₱141

-28.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.13 ₱71.3

34.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.90

$1.29 ₱81.3

-0.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.22

$2.06 ₱130

-46.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.09

$0.90 ₱56.8

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.54

$0.55 ₱34.37

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 ฿145

$2.51 ₱158

72.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.73 ฿593

$7.42 ₱467

138.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.99 ₱62.0

64.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿95.3

$1.13 ₱70.9

152.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 ฿28.31

$0.20 ₱12.47

325.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,801

$10.71 ₱675

403.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$0.69 ₱43.54

69.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.00

$0.21 ₱12.97

171.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿79.2

$1.70 ₱107

39.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$1.28 ₱80.3

13.28%

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

$20.5K ฿684.3K

$21.9K ₱1.4M

-6.72%

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

$26.5K ฿886.1K

$21.8K ₱1.4M

21.85%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$64.9 ₱4,083

-3.89%

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

$12.27 ฿410

$16.36 ₱1,030

-25.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.97 ฿668

$20.10 ₱1,266

-0.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 ฿1,267

$27.72 ₱1,745

36.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.76 ฿126

$4.68 ₱295

-19.66%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿224

$4.95 ₱312

35.56%

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

$797 ฿26.6K

$127 ₱7,995

527.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿495.7K

$8,993 ₱566.2K

64.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$30.83 ₱1,941

72.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 ฿837

$22.01 ₱1,386

13.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ฿3,062

$72.3 ₱4,553

26.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,455

$63.1 ₱3,975

16.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 ฿15.5K

$101 ₱6,360

359.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ฿10.2K

$56.3 ₱3,542

441.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 ฿30.6K

$237 ₱14.9K

285.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

$158 ₱9,973

248.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 ฿63.9K

$2,172 ₱136.7K

-11.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,438 ฿48.1K

$990 ₱62.3K

45.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$153 ₱9,616

289.68%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$305 32.5%

Mambajao

$56 11.1% 81.5% $248

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$238 25.4%

Mambajao

$156 30.7% 34.5% $82

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.7%

Mambajao

$85 16.7% 22.6% $25

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$95 10.1%

Mambajao

$101 20% 7.1% $6.7

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.4%

Mambajao

$59 11.5% 26% $21

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.5%

Mambajao

$13 2.6% 78.4% $48

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Mambajao

$38 7.4% 26.7% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $101 in Mambajao. 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 290% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Mambajao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $156 – making Mambajao the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Mambajao

🕒 Local time

01:19 1:19 AM

02:19 2:19 AM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

41,094

💱 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 19, 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 19, 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 Mambajao 2,970 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Mambajao

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 Mambajao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 85% more than Mambajao, 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 $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $761 in Mambajao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $127 in Mambajao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 53% 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 Mambajao, where all-in costs run around $508, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Mambajao 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. Mambajao costs $508 versus $938 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 Mambajao. 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.