Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Fernando, La Union Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Fernando, La Union

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $695 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,042 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,390 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than San Fernando, La Union, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and San Fernando, La Union are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, San Fernando, La Union 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$3.47 ₱212

-43.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$17.45 ₱1,068

7.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$3.39 ₱207

133.63%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$2.35 ₱144

-18.72%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.82 ₱50.4

2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.40 ₱24.27

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$1.30 ₱79.3

70.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.15 ₱132

76.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$3.07 ₱188

-46.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$1.28 ₱78.1

26.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$0.99 ₱60.7

19.19%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$2.00 ₱123

0.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$7.93 ₱485

100.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$4.13 ₱253

-27.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$7.81 ₱478

37.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$2.88 ₱176

-9.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$1.59 ₱97.5

-23.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$2.63 ₱161

-35.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.55 ₱94.9

1.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$2.28 ₱139

-42.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$2.51 ₱154

-53.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.10 ₱67.3

-39.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.70 ₱43.02

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$2.88 ₱176

57.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$8.50 ₱520

114.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$1.16 ₱70.9

57.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.07 ₱127

56.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.26 ₱15.87

242.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$0.77 ₱46.83

75.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$0.24 ₱14.72

462.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$2.18 ₱133

278.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.15 ₱70.6

10.43%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$26.9K ₱1.6M

-21.38%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$20.8K ₱1.3M

7.95%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$112 ₱6,824

-37.11%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$32.59 ₱1,994

-57.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$27.68 ₱1,694

-36.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$13.38 ₱818

210.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

$4.31 ₱264

53.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$5.92 ₱362

-2.36%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$149 ₱9,115

105.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$5,735 ₱350.9K

158.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$46.51 ₱2,846

16.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$26.62 ₱1,629

-1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$35.11 ₱2,148

140.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$39.38 ₱2,409

76.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$131 ₱8,042

222.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$122 ₱7,460

95.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$246 ₱15.0K

235.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$213 ₱13.0K

141.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

$2,323 ₱142.1K

-11.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-25.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $131 in San Fernando, La Union. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in San Fernando, La Union. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $217 – making San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than San Fernando, La Union, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,043 in San Fernando, La Union. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $17.00 in San Fernando, La Union. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $695 in San Fernando, La Union, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Fernando, La Union costs $695 versus $852 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 San Fernando, La Union. 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.