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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $678 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,028 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,379 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 28% 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 35% lower, San Fernando, La Union 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$3.59 ₱218

-44.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$17.79 ₱1,081

5.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.23 ₱196

139.94%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.35 ₱143

-18.30%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.78 ₱47.55

1.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.40 ₱24.17

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.35 ₱81.8

63.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.15 ₱131

70.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$3.04 ₱184

-45.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.23 ₱74.6

32.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.96 ₱58.0

23.96%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.02 ₱123

-0.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$7.98 ₱485

100.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.38 ₱266

-30.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$7.78 ₱473

39.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.84 ₱172

-2.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.58 ₱95.9

-25.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.70 ₱164

-39.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.62 ₱98.5

-6.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.23 ₱135

-38.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.60 ₱158

-54.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.07 ₱65.1

-34.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.76 ₱46.18

-26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.76 ₱168

65.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$8.95 ₱544

85.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.17 ₱70.9

56.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.03 ₱123

57.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.26 ₱15.60

238.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.82 ₱49.59

65.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.22 ₱13.28

509.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.19 ₱133

257.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.19 ₱72.1

3.36%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$27.1K ₱1.6M

-20.09%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$20.1K ₱1.2M

12.35%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$111 ₱6,726

-36.32%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$32.33 ₱1,963

-57.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$27.70 ₱1,682

-37.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$13.55 ₱823

205.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.49 ₱272

55.01%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.96 ₱362

-3.19%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$153 ₱9,309

100.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,749 ₱349.1K

154.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$45.68 ₱2,773

22.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$26.28 ₱1,596

-0.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$35.87 ₱2,178

139.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$40.08 ₱2,434

80.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$134 ₱8,137

220.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$124 ₱7,522

92.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$246 ₱14.9K

232.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$214 ₱13.0K

138.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,759 ₱167.5K

-28.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,034 ₱62.8K

43.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $134 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 $18.00 in San Fernando, La Union. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $219 – 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 28% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,017 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 $18.00 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 10% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $678 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 $678 versus $869 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.