Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tagum City

For one person, living is cheaper in Tagum City: $429 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Tagum City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$429

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Tagum 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 Tagum City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $429 in Tagum City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Tagum City $429

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $532 in Tagum City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Tagum City $532

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $635 in Tagum City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Tagum City $635

Chiang Mai costs about 118% more than Tagum City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Tagum City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tagum City 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

$5.56 ₱356

-59.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

$12.74 ₱816

49.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$5.00 ₱320

11.00%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

$2.21 ₱141

-24.43%

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$1.90 ₱122

24.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

$1.37 ₱88.0

167.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$1.65 ₱106

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$1.85 ₱118

23.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$7.63 ₱488

22.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$6.22 ₱398

-62.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

$1.36 ₱87.3

18.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

$0.22 ₱14.01

295.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

$1.31 ₱83.8

10.69%

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

$54.2 ₱3,467

14.77%

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

$12.17 ฿410

$7.88 ₱504

54.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

$27.21 ₱1,742

-26.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

$23.49 ₱1,503

58.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$3.25 ₱208

99.69%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$158 ₱10.1K

204.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$126 ₱8,033

146.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$317 ₱20.3K

217.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$203 ₱13.0K

190.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Tagum City: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Tagum City

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Tagum City

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Tagum City

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Tagum City

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Tagum City

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Tagum City

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Tagum City

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $158 in Tagum City. 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 2.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $13 in Tagum City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $85 – making Tagum City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Tagum City

🕒 Local time

16:18 4:18 PM

17:18 5:18 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

296,202

💱 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 Tagum City 3,160 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Tagum 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 Tagum City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 118% more than Tagum 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 $643 in Tagum City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tagum City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $158 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $429 in Tagum City. That makes Tagum City about 54% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 177% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $936 in Chiang Mai and $429 in Tagum City, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $429 in Tagum City to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Tagum City. 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.