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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $727 in Roxas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,124 in Roxas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,521 in Roxas, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Roxas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Roxas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Roxas 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$3.81 ₱235

-44.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$16.51 ₱1,018

19.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$2.42 ₱149

141.74%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.19 ₱135

-19.63%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.49 ₱30.38

51.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.35 ₱21.71

-5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.08 ₱66.8

128.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$1.72 ₱106

125.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.83 ₱113

3.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$1.20 ₱74.3

39.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$0.95 ₱58.4

42.11%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.00 ₱123

7.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$5.50 ₱339

188.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$3.78 ₱233

-25.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$8.26 ₱509

27.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$2.31 ₱143

3.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.53 ₱94.6

-30.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$2.39 ₱147

-36.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.23 ₱75.6

21.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$2.10 ₱129

-39.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$2.04 ₱125

-46.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.72 ₱44.10

-4.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.62 ₱38.41

-20.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.84 ₱175

50.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$9.10 ₱561

84.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$0.88 ₱54.4

88.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.73 ₱107

62.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.28 ₱17.56

221.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$10.32 ₱636

431.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.75 ₱46.34

60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.26 ₱16.26

107.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$2.13 ₱131

11.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.20 ₱74.1

19.17%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$21.9K ₱1.4M

-3.81%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$17.8K ₱1.1M

52.24%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$106 ₱6,528

-38.87%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$15.35 ₱946

-14.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$21.67 ₱1,336

-10.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$28.18 ₱1,737

39.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$4.80 ₱296

-21.46%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$4.83 ₱298

37.06%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$133 ₱8,181

506.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$7,021 ₱432.8K

115.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$28.46 ₱1,754

92.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$18.38 ₱1,133

38.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$70.2 ₱4,330

30.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$59.6 ₱3,673

25.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$270 ₱16.7K

72.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$194 ₱12.0K

45.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$483 ₱29.8K

84.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$406 ₱25.1K

28.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$2,527 ₱155.8K

-21.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,032 ₱63.6K

41.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$590 ₱36.3K

0.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.75

-17.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Roxas: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $270 in Roxas. 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 0% 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 Roxas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $186 – making Roxas 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 Roxas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Roxas, 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,090 in Roxas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $133 in Roxas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Roxas, where all-in costs run around $727, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Roxas 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. Roxas costs $727 versus $920 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 Roxas. 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.