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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $760 in Pagadian, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,074 in Pagadian, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,389 in Pagadian, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Pagadian, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Pagadian are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Pagadian 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.57 ₱220

-45.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$18.01 ₱1,110

3.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.20 ₱197

144.38%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.90 ₱179

-32.76%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.93 ₱57.1

-8.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.43 ₱26.38

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.08 ₱66.3

97.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.76 ₱108

111.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.71 ₱106

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.07 ₱66.1

52.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.97 ₱59.8

17.53%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.03 ₱125

-4.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.25 ₱508

96.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.98 ₱307

-37.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$5.85 ₱361

86.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.64 ₱224

-24.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.12 ₱69.3

8.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.42 ₱211

-52.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.34 ₱82.4

18.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.65 ₱164

-47.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$3.46 ₱213

-66.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.07 ₱66.1

-38.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.70 ₱43.42

-24.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.71 ₱167

73.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$7.91 ₱488

135.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.05 ₱64.6

71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.54 ₱94.8

109.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.26 ₱16.03

246.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$7.18 ₱443

167.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.82 ₱50.9

71.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.24 ₱14.87

437.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.10 ₱129

273.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.19 ₱73.2

6.72%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$26.9K ₱1.7M

-20.76%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$20.2K ₱1.2M

9.82%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$96.0 ₱5,919

-28.04%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$33.16 ₱2,045

-57.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$27.38 ₱1,688

-34.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$33.61 ₱2,072

22.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.53 ₱279

53.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.95 ₱367

-0.50%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$149 ₱9,190

100.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$4,359 ₱268.8K

243.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$45.37 ₱2,798

20.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$26.79 ₱1,652

-0.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$74.5 ₱4,592

14.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$53.1 ₱3,271

33.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$113 ₱6,956

279.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$177 ₱10.9K

34.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$248 ₱15.3K

222.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$150 ₱9,271

242.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,118 ₱130.6K

-6.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$966 ₱59.6K

52.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $113 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Pagadian. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $204 – 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 14% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,140 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $149 in Pagadian. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $760 in Pagadian, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pagadian costs $760 versus $866 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.