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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $801 in Palawan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,231 in Palawan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,661 in Palawan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Palawan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Palawan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Palawan 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$3.52 ₱221

-40.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$19.32 ₱1,214

1.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.25 ₱204

74.46%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.65 ₱167

-31.70%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.78 ₱49.27

-1.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.39 ₱24.72

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.24 ₱78.1

78.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.16 ₱136

75.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.92 ₱121

6.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.27 ₱79.7

18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.03 ₱64.6

35.92%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.05 ₱129

10.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$7.85 ₱493

106.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$4.28 ₱269

-32.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$7.93 ₱498

18.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$2.98 ₱187

-10.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.55 ₱97.6

-29.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.68 ₱169

-39.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.62 ₱102

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$2.30 ₱144

-44.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$2.60 ₱164

-59.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.07 ₱67.1

-32.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.71 ₱44.74

-25.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.81 ₱177

50.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$6.87 ₱432

166.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.17 ₱73.3

39.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.98 ₱124

46.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.28 ₱17.61

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$11.56 ₱726

365.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.79 ₱49.57

48.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.22 ₱13.81

163.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$2.08 ₱131

14.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.09 ₱68.7

33.03%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$26.1K ₱1.6M

-19.47%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$20.8K ₱1.3M

26.91%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$113 ₱7,088

-43.58%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$32.31 ₱2,030

-60.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$27.98 ₱1,758

-26.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$33.76 ₱2,121

15.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$4.36 ₱274

-10.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.80 ₱364

13.45%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$151 ₱9,501

418.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$4,399 ₱276.4K

233.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$45.96 ₱2,887

19.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$26.55 ₱1,668

-6.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$76.7 ₱4,821

22.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$53.8 ₱3,380

37.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$265 ₱16.6K

85.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$173 ₱10.9K

66.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$584 ₱36.7K

52.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$393 ₱24.7K

32.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$2,364 ₱148.5K

-16.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,003 ₱63.0K

44.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.67

-16.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Palawan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $265 in Palawan. 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 $19.00 in Palawan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $204 – making Palawan 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 Palawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Palawan, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $1,202 in Palawan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Palawan, 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 $151 in Palawan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 Palawan, where all-in costs run around $801, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Palawan 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. Palawan costs $801 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 Palawan. 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.