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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $874 in Pasig, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,401 in Pasig, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,929 in Pasig, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Pasig, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Pasig are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Pasig 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$4.40 ₱265

-55.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$26.68 ₱1,607

-31.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$3.47 ₱209

126.80%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$2.60 ₱157

-25.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.65 ₱39.26

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.37 ₱22.32

-13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$1.53 ₱92.2

39.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$2.68 ₱162

37.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.92 ₱116

-13.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$1.35 ₱81.5

15.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.04 ₱62.4

14.42%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$2.18 ₱131

-8.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$9.32 ₱562

74.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$4.18 ₱252

-24.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$8.52 ₱513

27.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$3.55 ₱214

-25.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.84 ₱111

-33.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$3.53 ₱213

-53.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.79 ₱108

-13.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$2.81 ₱169

-52.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$3.15 ₱190

-61.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$2.02 ₱122

-66.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.72 ₱43.19

-20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$3.22 ₱194

45.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$10.20 ₱614

66.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$1.51 ₱90.7

20.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.21 ₱133

43.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.28 ₱16.92

225.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$5.99 ₱361

212.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.85 ₱51.3

65.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$0.22 ₱13.24

509.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$2.15 ₱129

278.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.12 ₱67.2

14.29%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$27.0K ₱1.6M

-19.14%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$20.4K ₱1.2M

9.78%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$134 ₱8,082

-47.48%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$34.53 ₱2,080

-59.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$27.84 ₱1,677

-36.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$34.22 ₱2,061

20.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$4.35 ₱262

55.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$6.44 ₱388

-7.45%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$150 ₱9,058

101.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$4,769 ₱287.2K

213.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$48.65 ₱2,930

12.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$35.23 ₱2,122

-25.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$75.1 ₱4,524

14.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$46.13 ₱2,778

51.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$348 ₱21.0K

22.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$201 ₱12.1K

19.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$580 ₱35.0K

39.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$510 ₱30.7K

-0.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$3,431 ₱206.6K

-40.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$2,588 ₱155.8K

-41.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$455 ₱27.4K

36.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

11.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Pasig: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $348 in Pasig. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Pasig. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $236 in Pasig – so Pasig 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 Pasig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pasig costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,311 in Pasig. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $150 in Pasig. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Pasig – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $874 in Pasig, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $874 in Pasig. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pasig makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.