Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in San Fernando, La Union: $743 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
35

Cost of Living Index in San Fernando, La Union
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San Fernando, La Union Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

San Fernando, La Union

🇵🇭 Philippines

$743

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in San Fernando, La Union

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 San Fernando, La Union actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $743 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
San Fernando, La Union $743

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,125 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
San Fernando, La Union $1,125

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,507 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
San Fernando, La Union $1,507

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than San Fernando, La Union, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and San Fernando, La Union are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, San Fernando, La Union 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$3.80 ₱243

-41.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$16.73 ₱1,069

13.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$2.61 ₱167

112.64%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$2.36 ₱151

-29.24%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$0.71 ₱45.61

-9.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.34 ₱21.66

-8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.25 ₱80.1

88.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.25 ₱144

62.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.57 ₱100

24.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$1.13 ₱72.1

27.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$0.93 ₱59.3

43.01%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.05 ₱131

11.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$4.89 ₱312

236.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$4.33 ₱277

-35.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$7.08 ₱453

31.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$2.09 ₱134

12.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$1.51 ₱96.8

-35.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.69 ₱172

-40.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$1.19 ₱76.1

26.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$2.03 ₱130

-36.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$2.48 ₱158

-55.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$1.14 ₱72.7

-37.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.55 ₱35.03

-10.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.91 ₱186

42.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$8.52 ₱545

105.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$0.98 ₱62.6

64.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$2.00 ₱128

39.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.21 ₱13.63

314.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$13.37 ₱855

304.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$0.74 ₱47.21

56.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$0.19 ₱12.03

178.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$2.08 ₱133

16.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$1.04 ₱66.6

39.42%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$20.9K ₱1.3M

0.74%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$16.9K ₱1.1M

59.55%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$135 ₱8,628

-53.96%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$15.93 ₱1,018

-23.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$22.70 ₱1,450

-11.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$30.95 ₱1,977

20.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$5.76 ₱368

-34.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$4.97 ₱318

30.58%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$145 ₱9,295

406.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$8,332 ₱532.4K

77.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$33.00 ₱2,109

61.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$20.89 ₱1,335

17.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$70.4 ₱4,499

29.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$55.1 ₱3,517

30.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$253 ₱16.1K

90.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$170 ₱10.8K

82.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$484 ₱30.9K

107.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$350 ₱22.3K

81.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$2,333 ₱149.1K

1.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$1,056 ₱67.5K

50.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.92

-19.51%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

San Fernando, La Union

$170 22.8% 45.1% $139

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

San Fernando, La Union

$181 24.3% 22.8% $54

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

San Fernando, La Union

$81 10.9% 25.7% $28

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

San Fernando, La Union

$174 23.4% 83.9% $79

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

San Fernando, La Union

$82 11% 5.2% $4

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

San Fernando, La Union

$16 2.1% 74.1% $45

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

San Fernando, La Union

$41 5.5% 18.7% $9.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $253 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 in Chiang Mai versus $17 in San Fernando, La Union. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $181 – making San Fernando, La Union the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 San Fernando, La Union

🕒 Local time

05:01 5:01 AM

06:01 6:01 AM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

83,003

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 PHP = 1.57 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 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 63.89 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.13 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai San Fernando, La Union 2,270 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
San Fernando, La Union

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 San Fernando, La Union: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than San Fernando, La Union, 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,115 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $253 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $145 in San Fernando, La Union. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward San Fernando, La Union – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

For expats, San Fernando, La Union is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 21% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.