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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $776 in Pagadian, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,092 in Pagadian, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,408 in Pagadian, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Pagadian, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Pagadian are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Pagadian 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$3.49 ₱215

-43.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$17.85 ₱1,099

2.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.22 ₱198

132.30%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.90 ₱178

-30.34%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.96 ₱58.8

-11.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.46 ₱28.18

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.08 ₱66.5

98.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.73 ₱107

107.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.72 ₱106

-4.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.07 ₱66.0

46.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.03 ₱63.3

15.53%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.05 ₱126

-5.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$8.19 ₱504

97.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.87 ₱300

-38.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$5.85 ₱360

87.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.46 ₱213

-21.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.12 ₱68.9

4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$3.36 ₱207

-49.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.38 ₱85.1

15.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$2.65 ₱163

-47.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$3.41 ₱210

-64.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.10 ₱67.9

-39.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.75 ₱46.39

-25.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.60 ₱160

78.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$8.31 ₱511

112.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.04 ₱64.3

78.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.47 ₱90.4

124.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.28 ₱17.29

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$7.15 ₱440

170.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.77 ₱47.55

76.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.22 ₱13.53

509.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.10 ₱129

290.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.25 ₱76.9

-2.40%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$26.7K ₱1.6M

-20.09%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$20.6K ₱1.3M

9.29%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$93.9 ₱5,784

-24.77%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$32.31 ₱1,989

-56.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$26.98 ₱1,661

-35.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$33.52 ₱2,064

25.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$4.31 ₱265

59.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.79 ₱356

2.25%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$154 ₱9,480

100.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$4,303 ₱264.9K

245.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$46.08 ₱2,837

21.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$26.28 ₱1,618

-0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$74.2 ₱4,569

11.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$52.2 ₱3,213

34.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$112 ₱6,883

286.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$176 ₱10.8K

35.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$245 ₱15.1K

235.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$153 ₱9,426

234.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,755 ₱169.6K

-30.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$908 ₱55.9K

61.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-25.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $112 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Pagadian. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $204 in Pagadian – so Pagadian wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 11% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,165 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $154 in Pagadian. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $776 in Pagadian, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pagadian costs $776 versus $861 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.