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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $737 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,097 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,458 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than San Fernando, La Union, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and San Fernando, La Union are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, San Fernando, La Union 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.79 ₱238

-44.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$17.12 ₱1,073

15.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.77 ₱174

109.03%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.17 ₱136

-15.67%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.61 ₱38.53

27.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.35 ₱21.71

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.13 ₱70.7

107.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.93 ₱121

91.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.62 ₱102

25.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.13 ₱70.7

41.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.93 ₱58.3

52.69%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.88 ₱118

15.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$5.32 ₱334

199.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.30 ₱269

-28.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.27 ₱456

35.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.31 ₱145

13.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.56 ₱97.7

-29.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.34 ₱147

-30.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.18 ₱74.0

29.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.13 ₱133

-41.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.99 ₱125

-43.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.77 ₱48.15

-3.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.56 ₱34.84

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.90 ₱182

47.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$8.13 ₱510

121.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.99 ₱62.3

71.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.97 ₱123

47.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.25 ₱15.50

276.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$11.07 ₱694

399.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.82 ₱51.2

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.25 ₱15.71

112.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.89 ₱118

26.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.02 ₱64.1

41.18%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-1.78%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$19.7K ₱1.2M

38.41%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$124 ₱7,744

-47.43%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$15.07 ₱945

-11.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$24.51 ₱1,537

-15.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$31.96 ₱2,004

26.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$4.92 ₱308

-19.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$5.18 ₱325

29.54%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$132 ₱8,300

494.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,963 ₱499.2K

89.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$31.98 ₱2,005

75.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$19.28 ₱1,208

29.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$71.0 ₱4,453

30.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$55.7 ₱3,494

34.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$268 ₱16.8K

80.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$170 ₱10.7K

68.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$491 ₱30.8K

85.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$346 ₱21.7K

53.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,558 ₱160.3K

-22.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,038 ₱65.1K

39.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

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: September 7, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $268 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in San Fernando, La Union. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $179 – 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 29% more than San Fernando, La Union, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,105 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.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $132 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 35% 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 San Fernando, La Union, where all-in costs run around $737, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In San Fernando, La Union 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. San Fernando, La Union costs $737 versus $950 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.