Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Puerto Princesa

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Princesa: $698 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
34

Cost of Living Index in Puerto Princesa
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Puerto Princesa Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Puerto Princesa

🇵🇭 Philippines

$698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Puerto Princesa

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 Puerto Princesa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $698 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Puerto Princesa $698

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,050 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Puerto Princesa $1,050

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,401 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Puerto Princesa $1,401

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Puerto Princesa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Puerto Princesa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Puerto Princesa 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$4.28 ₱269

-46.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$16.79 ₱1,057

16.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$4.35 ₱274

28.97%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.27 ₱143

-26.87%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.88 ₱55.4

-20.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.49 ₱30.57

-36.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.21 ₱76.3

99.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$2.41 ₱152

53.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.67 ₱105

16.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.00 ₱62.7

41.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$0.77 ₱48.58

70.13%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.75 ₱110

24.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$5.62 ₱354

196.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$5.52 ₱347

-50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$6.87 ₱432

32.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$2.43 ₱153

-1.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$0.85 ₱53.5

21.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.38 ₱150

-31.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.12 ₱70.3

33.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$1.48 ₱93.0

-12.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.33 ₱83.8

-16.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.93 ₱58.6

-22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.73 ₱45.65

-27.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$2.82 ₱177

52.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$7.19 ₱452

149.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.01 ₱63.8

56.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$1.32 ₱83.4

115.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.24 ₱15.21

258.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$12.04 ₱758

342.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$0.77 ₱48.78

57.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.25 ₱15.83

128.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$1.86 ₱117

26.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.05 ₱66.0

37.14%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$16.7K ₱1.0M

24.47%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$19.3K ₱1.2M

38.69%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$61.6 ₱3,875

1.27%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$11.07 ₱697

9.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$25.05 ₱1,577

-20.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$32.44 ₱2,042

14.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$4.50 ₱284

-16.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$5.19 ₱327

25.24%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$130 ₱8,193

509.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$9,135 ₱575.1K

62.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$33.53 ₱2,111

60.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$19.08 ₱1,202

29.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$72.6 ₱4,572

25.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$54.9 ₱3,457

29.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$286 ₱18.0K

59.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$195 ₱12.3K

52.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$515 ₱32.4K

76.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$319 ₱20.1K

73.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$2,443 ₱153.8K

-20.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$1,002 ₱63.1K

44.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$224 ₱14.1K

163.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.12

-31.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Puerto Princesa

$195 27.9% 34.5% $103

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Puerto Princesa

$176 25.2% 25.4% $60

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Puerto Princesa

$81 11.6% 25% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Puerto Princesa

$98 14% 3.5% $3.3

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Puerto Princesa

$91 13% 15.6% $12

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Puerto Princesa

$15 2.2% 75.3% $46

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Puerto Princesa

$43 6.1% 14.5% $7.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $286 in Puerto Princesa. 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 164% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Puerto Princesa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $176 – making Puerto Princesa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Puerto Princesa

🕒 Local time

18:40 6:40 PM

19:40 7:40 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

307,079

💱 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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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Puerto Princesa 2,350 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Puerto Princesa

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 Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Puerto Princesa, 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,048 in Puerto Princesa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $130 in Puerto Princesa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 Puerto Princesa, where all-in costs run around $698, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Puerto Princesa 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. Puerto Princesa costs $698 versus $925 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 Puerto Princesa. 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.