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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $682 in Ormoc, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,031 in Ormoc, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,381 in Ormoc, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Ormoc, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ormoc are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ormoc 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$4.71 ₱295

-55.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$11.69 ₱733

67.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.80 ₱301

18.13%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.13 ₱134

-15.02%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.47 ₱29.19

63.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.31 ₱19.37

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.08 ₱67.6

104.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.91 ₱120

98.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.60 ₱100

28.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.02 ₱63.7

48.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.96 ₱59.9

45.83%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.76 ₱110

28.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$5.45 ₱342

197.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.31 ₱208

-12.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$7.23 ₱453

30.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.25 ₱141

19.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.56 ₱97.6

-30.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.39 ₱150

-32.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.20 ₱75.1

21.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.90 ₱119

-32.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$2.12 ₱133

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.77 ₱48.22

-6.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.55 ₱34.80

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.52 ₱158

67.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$8.57 ₱538

113.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.96 ₱60.4

69.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.74 ₱109

66.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.28 ₱17.60

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$9.94 ₱623

440.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.78 ₱48.82

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.27 ₱16.91

114.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.67 ₱105

43.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.10 ₱68.8

31.82%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$18.8K ₱1.2M

11.62%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$16.4K ₱1.0M

61.33%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$66.2 ₱4,151

-3.82%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$15.32 ₱961

-15.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$23.77 ₱1,491

-13.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$35.10 ₱2,201

11.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$4.91 ₱308

-20.16%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.85 ₱367

12.48%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$130 ₱8,155

502.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$6,796 ₱426.2K

115.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$32.14 ₱2,016

71.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$19.31 ₱1,211

28.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$66.2 ₱4,151

42.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$54.7 ₱3,433

35.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$268 ₱16.8K

82.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$167 ₱10.4K

73.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$201 ₱12.6K

343.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$359 ₱22.5K

45.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$2,716 ₱170.3K

-27.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,173 ₱73.6K

23.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

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 Ormoc: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $268 in Ormoc. 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 $12.00 in Ormoc. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $173 – making Ormoc 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 Ormoc: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Ormoc, 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 $1,023 in Ormoc. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ormoc, 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 $130 in Ormoc. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ormoc, where all-in costs run around $682, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Ormoc 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. Ormoc costs $682 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 Ormoc. 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.