Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Manila

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Manila: $906 and $931 a month, rent and utilities included.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
46

Cost of Living Index in Manila
Learn more

Manila Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$906

/mo nomad

Manila

🇵🇭 Philippines

$931

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $931 in Manila, rent included.

Chiang Mai $906
Manila $931

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,519 in Manila, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,385
Manila $1,519

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,106 in Manila, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,864
Manila $2,106

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Manila, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Manila 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.7

$5.61 ₱353

-62.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿652

$27.39 ₱1,722

-29.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

$3.95 ₱248

38.48%

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.7

$2.56 ₱161

-34.38%

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

$0.66 ฿22.19

$1.42 ₱89.3

-53.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ฿11.56

$0.81 ₱51.1

-58.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.3

$1.17 ₱73.4

106.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿126

$2.36 ₱148

58.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ฿69.2

$1.94 ₱122

6.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿48.98

$1.40 ₱88.2

4.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿45.27

$1.02 ₱64.3

32.35%

Eggs

$2.27 ฿76.3

$2.29 ₱144

-0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 ฿548

$7.86 ₱494

107.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 ฿90.7

$4.89 ₱307

-44.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 ฿309

$6.77 ₱426

35.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.5

$3.38 ₱213

-29.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.80

$1.85 ₱117

-43.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.96 ₱186

-45.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ฿48.57

$1.79 ₱113

-19.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.77

$2.24 ₱141

-41.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.45

$2.69 ₱169

-58.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.65

$2.20 ₱138

-68.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.06

$0.59 ₱37.35

-13.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ฿139

$3.13 ₱197

31.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿598

$9.42 ₱593

88.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.9

$1.33 ₱83.5

22.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ฿96.4

$2.00 ₱126

43.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.88

$0.47 ₱29.54

82.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,787

$12.58 ₱791

322.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.99

$0.78 ₱48.91

56.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.89

$0.23 ₱14.47

143.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.8

$1.94 ₱122

19.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿50.4

$1.33 ₱83.7

12.78%

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

$20.9K ฿701.2K

$21.3K ₱1.3M

-2.25%

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

$26.7K ฿898.8K

$19.7K ₱1.2M

35.80%

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

$61.3 ฿2,059

$121 ₱7,635

-49.54%

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

$12.50 ฿420

$16.04 ₱1,009

-22.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿685

$24.25 ₱1,525

-16.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,275

$43.44 ₱2,732

-12.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$5.90 ₱371

-36.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿222

$6.63 ₱417

-0.45%

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

$774 ฿26.0K

$613 ₱38.5K

26.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿485.3K

$8,953 ₱563.1K

61.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,842

$58.2 ₱3,657

-5.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿849

$27.18 ₱1,709

-7.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,045

$77.5 ₱4,875

16.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,463

$57.0 ₱3,583

28.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ฿15.4K

$534 ₱33.6K

-14.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,877

$287 ₱18.0K

2.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 ฿30.9K

$1,916 ₱120.5K

-52.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.6K

$677 ₱42.6K

-18.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 ฿64.5K

$4,439 ₱279.1K

-56.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.6K

$2,556 ₱160.8K

-43.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.9K

$485 ₱30.5K

22.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.43

-25.03%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Manila: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$294 31.8%

Manila

$287 30.2% 2.3% $6.8

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$236 25.6%

Manila

$221 23.3% 6.2% $15

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.9%

Manila

$99 10.4% 9.9% $11

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Manila

$162 17% 71.8% $68

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.4%

Manila

$107 11.3% 38.4% $30

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Manila

$16 1.7% 73% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Manila

$57 6% 10.9% $5.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $534 in Manila. 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 22% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Manila. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Chiang Mai vs $221 in Manila – so Manila wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Manila

🕒 Local time

14:45 2:45 PM

15:45 3:45 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,780,148 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.42 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 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.71 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.89 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.54 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Manila 2,390 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Manila

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 Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,396 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $774 per month in Chiang Mai and $613 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Manila – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Manila at $931. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $906 versus $931 in Manila. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.