Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Talisay City

For one person, living is cheaper in Talisay City: $728 a month against $925 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 Talisay City
Learn more

Talisay City Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Talisay City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$728

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $728 in Talisay City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Talisay City $728

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,105 in Talisay City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Talisay City $1,105

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,482 in Talisay City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Talisay City $1,482

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Talisay City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Talisay City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Talisay City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$4.02 ₱253

-43.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$16.50 ₱1,039

19.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$2.88 ₱181

94.79%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.19 ₱138

-24.20%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.66 ₱41.66

6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.31 ₱19.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.13 ₱71.1

113.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$1.93 ₱122

92.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.60 ₱101

21.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.15 ₱72.4

22.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$0.96 ₱60.3

36.46%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.86 ₱117

17.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$5.43 ₱342

206.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$4.08 ₱257

-32.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$7.30 ₱460

24.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$2.37 ₱149

0.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$1.53 ₱96.3

-32.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.43 ₱153

-32.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.13 ₱71.4

32.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$2.02 ₱127

-36.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.94 ₱122

-42.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$1.00 ₱62.7

-28.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.57 ₱35.94

-7.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$2.98 ₱188

44.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$7.42 ₱467

141.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$0.95 ₱59.7

66.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$1.87 ₱118

51.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.26 ₱16.47

230.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$11.29 ₱711

371.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$0.78 ₱49.09

55.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.21 ₱13.19

171.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$1.88 ₱119

25.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.22 ₱77.1

18.03%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-2.12%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$19.0K ₱1.2M

40.88%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$124 ₱7,810

-49.75%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$14.94 ₱940

-18.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$24.50 ₱1,542

-18.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$32.17 ₱2,025

15.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$4.54 ₱286

-16.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$5.05 ₱318

28.71%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$132 ₱8,279

502.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$7,858 ₱494.7K

88.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$32.49 ₱2,046

65.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$19.38 ₱1,220

27.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$71.2 ₱4,481

27.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$54.7 ₱3,443

30.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$270 ₱17.0K

68.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$170 ₱10.7K

75.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$522 ₱32.9K

73.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$348 ₱21.9K

59.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$2,427 ₱152.8K

-20.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$988 ₱62.2K

46.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$329 ₱20.7K

79.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.79

-17.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Talisay City: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Talisay City

$170 23.3% 43.1% $128

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Talisay City

$178 24.4% 24.5% $58

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Talisay City

$80 11% 26.1% $28

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Talisay City

$163 22.5% 73.2% $69

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Talisay City

$80 11.1% 2.3% $1.8

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Talisay City

$14 2% 76.7% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Talisay City

$42 5.8% 15.6% $7.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $270 in Talisay City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 80% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Talisay City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $178 – making Talisay City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Talisay City

🕒 Local time

18:41 6:41 PM

19:41 7:41 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

133,148

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 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 October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Talisay City 2,830 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Talisay 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,092 in Talisay City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Talisay City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $132 in Talisay City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Talisay City, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Talisay City 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. Talisay City costs $728 versus $925 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 Talisay City. 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.