Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Surigao

For one person, living is cheaper in Surigao: $733 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 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 Surigao
Learn more

Surigao Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Surigao

🇵🇭 Philippines

$733

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Surigao

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $733 in Surigao, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Surigao $733

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,113 in Surigao, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Surigao $1,113

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,492 in Surigao, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Surigao $1,492

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Surigao, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Surigao are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Surigao 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

$3.95 ₱251

-46.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$16.72 ₱1,062

11.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$2.82 ₱179

98.58%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

$2.13 ₱135

-22.07%

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

$0.65 ฿21.82

$0.67 ₱42.83

-2.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

$0.31 ₱19.60

-3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

$1.16 ₱73.5

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

$2.01 ₱128

82.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$1.60 ₱102

26.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$1.14 ₱72.4

23.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.94

$0.97 ₱61.3

43.30%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$1.85 ₱118

28.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$5.62 ₱357

193.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$4.15 ₱264

-35.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

$6.87 ₱436

31.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$2.42 ₱154

-0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.12

$1.58 ₱100

-34.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$2.32 ₱147

-28.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$1.13 ₱71.7

38.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.75

$2.12 ₱135

-41.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.65

$2.26 ₱143

-51.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$1.09 ₱69.4

-30.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.34

$0.57 ₱36.48

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$2.95 ₱187

39.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

$7.34 ₱466

144.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

$0.91 ₱57.6

78.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

$1.92 ₱122

46.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.52

$0.22 ₱13.94

322.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,784

$12.28 ₱780

330.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$0.76 ₱48.05

55.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

$0.22 ₱13.99

-22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$1.90 ₱120

-4.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.67

$1.22 ₱77.6

20.49%

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

$21.0K ฿708.7K

$21.3K ₱1.4M

-1.24%

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

$26.5K ฿894.4K

$19.3K ₱1.2M

37.70%

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

$62.6 ฿2,110

$120 ₱7,606

-47.78%

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

$11.60 ฿391

$15.80 ₱1,003

-26.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

$34.90 ₱2,216

-41.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

$31.82 ₱2,020

19.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

$5.07 ₱322

-27.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

$5.06 ₱321

28.66%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$128 ₱8,117

468.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.0K

$7,715 ₱489.8K

114.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,806

$32.90 ₱2,089

62.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

$19.32 ₱1,227

28.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,049

$71.4 ₱4,535

26.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

$53.7 ₱3,409

34.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$250 ₱15.9K

92.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

$168 ₱10.7K

84.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

$485 ₱30.8K

118.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

$348 ₱22.1K

89.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

$2,651 ₱168.3K

-8.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

$1,124 ₱71.3K

43.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Surigao: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Surigao

$168 22.9% 45.8% $142

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Surigao

$179 24.4% 24.5% $58

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Surigao

$80 10.9% 26.3% $29

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Surigao

$171 23.3% 80.5% $76

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Surigao

$79 10.8% 3.7% $2.9

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Surigao

$15 2.1% 74.4% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Surigao

$42 5.7% 17.6% $9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $250 in Surigao. 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 Surigao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $179 – making Surigao the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Surigao

🕒 Local time

18:10 6:10 PM

19:10 7:10 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

171,107

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.64 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 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 63.49 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 71.17 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Surigao 3,020 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Surigao

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 Surigao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Surigao, 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 $1,100 in Surigao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surigao, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $250 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

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

Groceries cost about 33% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward Surigao – 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, Surigao is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 22% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.