Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Marawi Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Marawi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $717 in Marawi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,102 in Marawi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,487 in Marawi, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Marawi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Marawi 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.61 ₱226

-42.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$14.46 ₱907

35.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$2.77 ₱174

104.69%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.16 ₱136

-16.20%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.58 ₱36.42

32.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.30 ₱19.08

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.26 ₱79.3

75.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.73 ₱109

119.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.69 ₱106

21.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.16 ₱72.6

30.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.95 ₱59.9

47.37%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.92 ₱121

17.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$5.30 ₱332

205.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.10 ₱257

-29.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.99 ₱438

34.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.27 ₱142

18.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.62 ₱101

-32.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.39 ₱150

-32.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.18 ₱73.8

23.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$2.02 ₱127

-36.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.95 ₱122

-45.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.77 ₱48.43

-6.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.52 ₱32.70

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.21 ₱201

31.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$6.80 ₱427

168.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.81 ₱50.6

101.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.88 ₱118

54.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.26 ₱16.28

238.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$9.46 ₱593

468.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.76 ₱47.88

53.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.23 ₱14.48

152.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.75 ₱110

36.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.09 ₱68.1

33.03%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$20.3K ₱1.3M

3.27%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$22.1K ₱1.4M

19.59%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$108 ₱6,761

-40.95%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$12.81 ₱803

0.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$24.42 ₱1,531

-15.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$36.16 ₱2,268

7.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$4.31 ₱270

-9.05%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.88 ₱306

34.84%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$131 ₱8,237

496.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$8,059 ₱505.4K

82.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$31.86 ₱1,998

72.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$19.13 ₱1,200

29.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$70.3 ₱4,408

33.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$55.0 ₱3,447

34.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$262 ₱16.4K

87.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$172 ₱10.8K

67.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$492 ₱30.8K

81.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$351 ₱22.0K

48.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$2,956 ₱185.4K

-33.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,034 ₱64.9K

39.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$284 ₱17.8K

112.20%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Marawi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $262 in Marawi. 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 112% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Marawi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $174 – making Marawi 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 Marawi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Marawi, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,076 in Marawi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $131 in Marawi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Marawi, where all-in costs run around $717, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Marawi 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. Marawi costs $717 versus $932 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 Marawi. 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.