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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $730 in Pagadian, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,099 in Pagadian, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,468 in Pagadian, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Pagadian are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Pagadian 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$3.82 ₱239

-45.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$17.08 ₱1,068

14.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$2.85 ₱178

98.25%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.95 ₱122

-7.18%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.82 ₱51.3

-13.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.23 ₱14.27

39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.46 ₱91.1

53.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.92 ₱120

89.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.71 ₱107

14.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.21 ₱75.4

23.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$0.90 ₱56.0

48.89%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.85 ₱116

22.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$4.73 ₱296

243.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.16 ₱260

-29.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$6.85 ₱428

45.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$2.49 ₱156

3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.45 ₱90.8

-26.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.42 ₱151

-33.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.13 ₱70.4

34.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$2.28 ₱143

-44.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$2.23 ₱140

-52.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.80 ₱49.75

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.56 ₱34.76

-8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.94 ₱184

42.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.96 ₱498

124.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.96 ₱60.3

76.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.01 ₱126

41.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.25 ₱15.56

272.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$11.31 ₱707

376.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.69 ₱42.95

78.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.23 ₱14.40

152.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.93 ₱120

25.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.05 ₱65.4

34.29%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$24.6K ₱1.5M

-12.88%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$20.6K ₱1.3M

32.59%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$124 ₱7,751

-48.63%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$16.40 ₱1,026

-21.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$26.48 ₱1,656

-23.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$31.92 ₱1,996

21.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$4.80 ₱300

-17.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$5.40 ₱338

24.81%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$153 ₱9,562

408.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$7,142 ₱446.7K

104.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$33.99 ₱2,126

59.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$21.15 ₱1,323

20.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$67.9 ₱4,249

38.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$60.2 ₱3,762

22.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$271 ₱16.9K

80.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$151 ₱9,456

91.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$503 ₱31.5K

77.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$350 ₱21.9K

47.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,279 ₱142.5K

-14.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,165 ₱72.9K

26.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $271 in Pagadian. 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 $17.00 in Pagadian. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $178 – making Pagadian 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 Pagadian: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Pagadian, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,095 in Pagadian. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $153 in Pagadian. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 Pagadian, where all-in costs run around $730, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Pagadian 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. Pagadian costs $730 versus $947 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 Pagadian. 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.