Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Pagadian

For one person, living is cheaper in Pagadian: $717 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
35

Cost of Living Index in Pagadian
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Pagadian Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$938

/mo nomad

Pagadian

🇵🇭 Philippines

$717

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Pagadian

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Pagadian actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $717 in Pagadian, rent included.

Chiang Mai $938
Pagadian $717

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,100 in Pagadian, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,426
Pagadian $1,100

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,483 in Pagadian, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,914
Pagadian $1,483

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Pagadian, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Pagadian are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Pagadian 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.81 ₱240

-40.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 ฿641

$16.55 ₱1,042

15.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ฿187

$2.77 ₱174

101.81%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ฿57.6

$1.93 ₱121

-10.88%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$0.87 ₱54.7

-26.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿11.18

$0.23 ₱14.39

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿78.7

$1.42 ₱89.3

66.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ฿130

$1.99 ₱125

95.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.6

$1.70 ₱107

20.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ฿46.70

$1.05 ₱65.8

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.89

$0.93 ₱58.5

37.63%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.3

$1.63 ₱102

38.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.94 ฿566

$4.93 ₱310

243.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 ฿91.6

$4.10 ₱258

-33.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ฿313

$6.05 ₱381

54.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.3

$2.60 ₱163

-7.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ฿33.92

$1.44 ₱90.8

-29.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.9

$2.53 ₱159

-36.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.00 ₱62.8

52.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.90

$1.77 ₱111

-27.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.22

$1.96 ₱123

-43.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.09

$0.90 ₱56.7

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.54

$0.64 ₱40.28

-18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 ฿145

$3.12 ₱197

38.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.73 ฿593

$8.03 ₱506

120.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.02 ₱64.2

59.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿95.3

$1.71 ₱107

66.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 ฿28.31

$0.26 ₱16.36

226.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,801

$10.91 ₱687

394.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$0.73 ₱46.09

60.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.00

$0.25 ₱15.71

128.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿79.2

$1.89 ₱119

25.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$1.06 ₱66.9

36.79%

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

$20.5K ฿684.3K

$19.0K ₱1.2M

7.82%

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

$26.5K ฿886.1K

$17.9K ₱1.1M

48.45%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$122 ₱7,687

-48.95%

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

$12.27 ฿410

$15.52 ₱977

-20.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.97 ฿668

$24.08 ₱1,516

-17.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 ฿1,267

$35.90 ₱2,260

5.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.76 ฿126

$4.29 ₱270

-12.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿224

$5.59 ₱352

20.04%

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

$797 ฿26.6K

$129 ₱8,114

518.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿495.7K

$6,823 ₱429.6K

117.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$34.11 ₱2,148

56.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 ฿837

$17.27 ₱1,088

45.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ฿3,062

$74.9 ₱4,719

22.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,455

$56.0 ₱3,527

31.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 ฿15.5K

$263 ₱16.5K

76.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ฿10.2K

$161 ₱10.2K

88.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 ฿30.6K

$509 ₱32.0K

80.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

$358 ₱22.5K

54.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 ฿63.9K

$2,576 ₱162.2K

-25.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,438 ฿48.1K

$989 ₱62.2K

45.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.79

-17.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$305 32.5%

Pagadian

$161 22.5% 47% $143

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$238 25.4%

Pagadian

$173 24.1% 27.3% $65

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.7%

Pagadian

$82 11.5% 25.1% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$95 10.1%

Pagadian

$162 22.6% 71% $67

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.4%

Pagadian

$77 10.8% 2.1% $1.7

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.5%

Pagadian

$14 1.9% 77.3% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Pagadian

$47 6.6% 8.3% $4.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $263 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 $17.00 in Pagadian. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $173 – making Pagadian the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Pagadian

🕒 Local time

12:58 12:58 PM

13:58 1:58 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

199,060

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Pagadian 2,910 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Pagadian

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 31% more than Pagadian, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,075 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 $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $129 in Pagadian. 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 Pagadian, where all-in costs run around $717, than in Chiang Mai at $938. 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 $717 versus $938 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.