Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and the Philippines
For one person, living is cheaper in the Philippines: $754 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
Philippines Living Index36Cost of Living Index in the PhilippinesLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 22.1% more expensive than the Philippines without rent, and 20.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 16.1% more expensive than the Philippines without rent, and 18.3% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Philippines
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$4.08 ₱256
-47.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$21.43 ₱1,344
-9.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$3.18 ₱199
72.01%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$2.22 ₱139
-24.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$0.70 ₱43.83
-5.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.37 ₱22.97
-8.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$1.29 ₱81.2
87.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$2.00 ₱126
86.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Philippines
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.69 ₱106
21.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$1.18 ₱74.1
23.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$0.87 ₱54.3
55.17%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$1.96 ₱123
15.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$6.95 ₱436
134.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$4.29 ₱269
-37.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$7.07 ₱444
30.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$2.90 ₱182
-17.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$1.44 ₱90.2
-27.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$2.52 ₱158
-36.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$1.50 ₱94.4
-4.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$2.19 ₱137
-40.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$2.56 ₱161
-56.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$1.33 ₱83.2
-47.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.65 ₱40.91
-21.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$2.83 ₱177
45.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$6.20 ₱389
186.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.17 ₱73.5
39.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$1.73 ₱108
65.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Philippines
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.28 ₱17.68
207.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$12.71 ₱797
318.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$0.78 ₱48.96
56.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$0.23 ₱14.43
143.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$1.88 ₱118
22.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.16 ₱72.6
29.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$21.2K ₱1.3M
-1.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$19.5K ₱1.2M
37.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Philippines
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$103 ₱6,459
-40.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$14.13 ₱886
-11.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$27.09 ₱1,699
-24.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Philippines
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$31.47 ₱1,974
20.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$5.95 ₱373
-36.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$5.46 ₱342
20.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Philippines
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$142 ₱8,889
446.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$5,663 ₱355.2K
154.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Philippines
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$43.92 ₱2,755
24.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$24.08 ₱1,510
4.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$67.1 ₱4,210
34.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$60.4 ₱3,789
21.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Philippines
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$322 ₱20.2K
42.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$184 ₱11.5K
59.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$652 ₱40.9K
41.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$355 ₱22.2K
55.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$2,998 ₱188.0K
-36.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$1,394 ₱87.4K
3.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Philippines
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$313 ₱19.6K
89.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
7.2
-22.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for the Philippines: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
Philippines $184 24.6% 37.4% $110
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
Philippines $191 25.5% 19.1% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
Philippines $88 11.8% 19.8% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
Philippines $144 19.3% 53.2% $50
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
Philippines $84 11.2% 8.2% $6.3
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
Philippines $16 2.1% 74% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
Philippines $42 5.7% 17.1% $8.8
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
Philippines $355 22.8% 35.7% $197
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
Philippines $448 28.8% 15.3% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
Philippines $196 12.6% 19.8% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
Philippines $158 10.2% 48.5% $52
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
Philippines $275 17.7% 12.8% $31
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
Philippines $32 2.1% 73.9% $91
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
Philippines $91 5.8% 14.4% $15
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇵🇭 Philippines
Weather
Population
127,240
109,035,343
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai Philippines 2,390 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- Philippines
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
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