Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sorsogon City

For one person, living is cheaper in Sorsogon City: $715 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 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 Sorsogon City
Learn more

Sorsogon City Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Sorsogon City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$715

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Sorsogon City

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 Sorsogon City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $715 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Sorsogon City $715

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,099 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Sorsogon City $1,099

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,483 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Sorsogon City $1,483

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Sorsogon City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Sorsogon City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sorsogon City 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

$3.95 ₱253

-43.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

$15.72 ₱1,006

20.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$2.83 ₱181

96.11%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

$2.20 ₱140

-24.09%

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

$0.68 ₱43.55

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

$0.34 ₱21.48

-8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$1.20 ₱76.8

96.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

$2.00 ₱128

83.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$1.64 ₱105

18.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

$1.27 ₱81.2

13.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

$0.94 ₱60.3

41.49%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$1.89 ₱121

20.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

$5.54 ₱354

196.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$4.18 ₱267

-33.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$6.88 ₱440

35.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$2.41 ₱154

-2.49%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

$1.55 ₱99.5

-37.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

$2.28 ₱146

-29.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$0.98 ₱62.9

53.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

$2.15 ₱137

-40.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

$2.17 ₱139

-49.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

$1.06 ₱67.6

-33.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

$0.56 ₱35.88

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$3.09 ₱198

33.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

$7.62 ₱487

129.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

$0.98 ₱62.6

64.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$1.92 ₱123

44.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

$0.23 ₱14.81

278.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

$10.55 ₱675

412.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

$0.82 ₱52.5

41.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

$0.19 ₱12.42

178.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

$1.93 ₱124

25.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

$1.30 ₱83.1

11.54%

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

$19.2K ₱1.2M

9.61%

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

$19.1K ₱1.2M

41.08%

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

$121 ₱7,727

-48.51%

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

$12.17 ฿410

$13.58 ₱869

-10.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

$24.35 ₱1,558

-17.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

$32.00 ₱2,048

16.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$5.13 ₱328

-26.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$5.42 ₱347

19.74%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$111 ₱7,126

561.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

$7,261 ₱464.6K

103.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

$29.79 ₱1,907

79.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

$21.96 ₱1,405

12.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

$63.7 ₱4,076

43.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

$59.2 ₱3,791

21.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$270 ₱17.3K

78.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$161 ₱10.3K

91.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$458 ₱29.3K

119.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

$359 ₱22.9K

76.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

$2,964 ₱189.7K

-20.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,110 ₱71.1K

43.11%

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 Sorsogon City: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Sorsogon City

$161 22.6% 47.8% $148

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Sorsogon City

$180 25.1% 23.3% $55

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Sorsogon City

$79 11% 27.7% $30

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Sorsogon City

$159 22.2% 68% $64

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Sorsogon City

$80 11.3% 3.7% $2.9

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sorsogon City

$13 1.9% 78.4% $48

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Sorsogon City

$43 6% 14.8% $7.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $270 in Sorsogon City. 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 $16 in Sorsogon City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $180 – making Sorsogon City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Sorsogon City

🕒 Local time

16:57 4:57 PM

17:57 5:57 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

168,110

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 PHP = 1.56 USD

100 PHP = 1.4 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 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 63.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.56 USD). 1 EUR = 71.41 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Sorsogon City 2,750 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Sorsogon City

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 Sorsogon City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Sorsogon City, 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 $1,072 in Sorsogon City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sorsogon City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $270 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $111 in Sorsogon City. 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.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Sorsogon City, where all-in costs run around $715, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Sorsogon City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sorsogon City – 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, Sorsogon City is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 24% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.