Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Surigao Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Surigao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $725 in Surigao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,116 in Surigao, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,507 in Surigao, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Surigao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Surigao are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Surigao 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$3.65 ₱229

-43.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$18.21 ₱1,141

7.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$2.83 ₱177

100.35%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.94 ₱122

-6.70%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.62 ₱38.64

24.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.36 ₱22.81

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.17 ₱73.3

88.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.70 ₱107

122.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.69 ₱106

21.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.16 ₱72.4

30.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.96 ₱59.9

45.83%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.88 ₱118

20.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$5.17 ₱324

213.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$4.23 ₱265

-31.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$7.16 ₱449

31.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$2.39 ₱150

12.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.61 ₱101

-32.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.03 ₱127

-20.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.29 ₱81.1

13.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$2.15 ₱135

-40.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$2.16 ₱135

-50.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.75 ₱47.10

-4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.49 ₱30.69

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.89 ₱181

46.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$8.96 ₱561

104.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$0.81 ₱50.9

101.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$1.69 ₱106

71.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.25 ₱15.51

252.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$9.46 ₱593

468.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.73 ₱46.02

60.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.26 ₱16.39

123.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$1.94 ₱121

23.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.19 ₱74.8

21.85%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$20.5K ₱1.3M

2.74%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$18.6K ₱1.2M

42.11%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$120 ₱7,514

-46.91%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$13.92 ₱872

-7.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$34.49 ₱2,162

-40.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$34.00 ₱2,130

14.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$5.24 ₱329

-25.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.38 ₱337

22.30%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$115 ₱7,234

579.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$9,128 ₱572.0K

60.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$33.87 ₱2,122

62.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$21.55 ₱1,350

14.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$77.7 ₱4,872

21.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$54.5 ₱3,418

35.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$270 ₱16.9K

81.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$171 ₱10.7K

68.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$518 ₱32.5K

71.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$316 ₱19.8K

64.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$2,613 ₱163.8K

-24.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,179 ₱73.9K

22.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿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 13, 2026

Last update for Surigao: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $270 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Surigao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $179 – making Surigao 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 Surigao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Surigao, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,087 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $115 in Surigao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 Surigao, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Surigao 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. Surigao costs $725 versus $932 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 Surigao. 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.