Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Santa Rosa, Philippines

Name: Santa Rosa
Address: Santa Rosa, PH

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Rosa: $609 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 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
29

Cost of Living Index in Santa Rosa
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Santa Rosa Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Santa Rosa

🇵🇭 Philippines

$609

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Santa Rosa

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 Santa Rosa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $609 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Santa Rosa $609

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $868 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Santa Rosa $868

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,127 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Santa Rosa $1,127

Chiang Mai costs about 54% more than Santa Rosa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Santa Rosa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Santa Rosa 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

$2.37 ₱150

-10.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$16.73 ₱1,061

11.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$2.79 ₱177

100.72%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

$1.12 ₱71.0

48.21%

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

$0.65 ฿21.83

$0.36 ₱22.54

80.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

$0.24 ₱15.27

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.4

$1.02 ₱65.0

127.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

$1.28 ₱81.3

186.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$1.64 ₱104

23.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.51

$1.15 ₱72.9

22.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.96

$1.02 ₱64.5

36.27%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$1.55 ₱98.3

52.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$4.82 ₱306

242.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$3.33 ₱211

-19.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

$7.53 ₱478

19.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$2.18 ₱138

10.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.13

$0.80 ₱50.6

30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$2.34 ₱149

-29.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$1.00 ₱63.7

56.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.76

$1.64 ₱104

-24.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.66

$1.67 ₱106

-34.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$0.87 ₱55.2

-12.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.35

$0.52 ₱33.20

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$2.95 ₱187

39.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

$8.46 ₱537

111.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

$0.96 ₱60.8

68.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

$1.98 ₱126

42.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.53

$0.22 ₱13.93

322.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,785

$12.12 ₱769

336.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.70

$0.81 ₱51.3

45.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.79

$0.20 ₱12.67

-15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$1.91 ₱121

-5.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.69

$1.02 ₱64.8

44.12%

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

$21.0K ฿708.9K

$20.9K ₱1.3M

0.60%

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

$26.5K ฿894.6K

$19.1K ₱1.2M

39.14%

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

$62.6 ฿2,111

$62.5 ₱3,965

0.11%

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

$11.60 ฿392

$6.35 ₱403

82.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

$22.61 ₱1,435

-10.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

$30.97 ₱1,965

22.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

$5.30 ₱336

-30.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

$5.01 ₱318

29.94%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$128 ₱8,127

467.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.2K

$5,501 ₱349.0K

201.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,807

$28.15 ₱1,786

90.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿837

$19.46 ₱1,234

27.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,050

$70.2 ₱4,452

28.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

$54.8 ₱3,476

31.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$254 ₱16.1K

89.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

$167 ₱10.6K

85.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

$489 ₱31.0K

116.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

$173 ₱11.0K

280.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.6K

$2,679 ₱170.0K

-9.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

$1,131 ₱71.7K

42.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

$142 ₱9,019

318.39%

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Santa Rosa

$167 27.5% 46% $143

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Santa Rosa

$166 27.2% 30% $71

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Santa Rosa

$78 12.8% 28.3% $31

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Santa Rosa

$91 15% 3.2% $3

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Santa Rosa

$51 8.4% 33.7% $26

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Santa Rosa

$15 2.4% 74.8% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Santa Rosa

$41 6.7% 19.4% $9.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $254 in Santa Rosa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 4.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $17 in Santa Rosa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $166 – making Santa Rosa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Santa Rosa

🕒 Local time

23:55 11:55 PM

00:55 12:55 AM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

414,812

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 PHP = 1.58 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 November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 63.44 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 71.03 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Santa Rosa 2,410 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Santa Rosa

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 Santa Rosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 54% more than Santa Rosa, 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 $913 in Santa Rosa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Rosa, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $254 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $128 in Santa Rosa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $609 in Santa Rosa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Rosa – 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.

If budget matters most, go with Santa Rosa. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.