Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Puerto Princesa Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Puerto Princesa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $714 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,062 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,409 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Puerto Princesa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Puerto Princesa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Puerto Princesa 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$4.38 ₱274

-52.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$16.56 ₱1,035

18.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$4.41 ₱276

28.12%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$2.38 ₱149

-23.95%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$0.91 ₱56.6

-21.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$0.49 ₱30.45

-34.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

$1.26 ₱78.9

77.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$2.37 ₱148

53.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$1.76 ₱110

11.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$1.00 ₱62.6

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$0.78 ₱48.65

71.79%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.76 ₱110

28.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

$5.30 ₱331

206.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$5.51 ₱344

-46.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

$6.91 ₱432

43.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$2.40 ₱150

7.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$0.92 ₱57.7

15.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$2.74 ₱171

-41.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$1.15 ₱72.1

32.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$1.49 ₱93.1

-14.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$1.32 ₱82.8

-18.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$0.78 ₱48.94

-7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$0.72 ₱45.21

-29.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$2.94 ₱184

42.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

$7.02 ₱439

154.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

$1.02 ₱64.1

65.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

$1.30 ₱81.3

118.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$0.25 ₱15.63

272.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

$11.53 ₱721

367.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$0.81 ₱50.8

51.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$0.22 ₱13.90

163.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

$1.94 ₱122

24.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

$1.04 ₱65.3

35.58%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

$16.9K ₱1.1M

26.73%

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$19.7K ₱1.2M

38.75%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

$63.1 ₱3,945

0.92%

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

$12.85 ฿426

$10.88 ₱680

18.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

$24.45 ₱1,529

-17.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$32.25 ₱2,016

20.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$4.97 ₱311

-20.12%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$5.08 ₱318

32.68%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

$131 ₱8,214

492.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$7,903 ₱494.2K

84.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$32.15 ₱2,010

68.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$19.63 ₱1,227

29.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

$73.0 ₱4,564

29.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$55.4 ₱3,461

32.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

$289 ₱18.1K

69.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

$204 ₱12.7K

42.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

$515 ₱32.2K

73.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

$319 ₱20.0K

61.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

$2,600 ₱162.6K

-24.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

$1,047 ₱65.4K

41.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$221 ₱13.8K

172.11%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $289 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 172% 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: $240 vs $177 – making Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Puerto Princesa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,072 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $131 in Puerto Princesa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% 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 $714, than in Chiang Mai at $947. 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 $714 versus $947 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.