Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tarlac City

For one person, living is cheaper in Tarlac City: $523 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
25

Cost of Living Index in Tarlac City
Learn more

Tarlac City Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Tarlac City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$523

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $523 in Tarlac City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Tarlac City $523

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $801 in Tarlac City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Tarlac City $801

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,080 in Tarlac City, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Tarlac City $1,080

Chiang Mai costs about 79% more than Tarlac City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Tarlac City are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tarlac City 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$1.99 ₱127

12.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$7.94 ₱506

139.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$2.67 ₱170

107.87%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$1.82 ₱116

-8.24%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$0.48 ₱30.72

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.30 ₱19.15

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$0.95 ₱60.6

148.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$1.58 ₱100

131.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.65 ₱105

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$1.13 ₱72.0

27.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$1.01 ₱64.1

31.68%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.92 ₱123

18.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$4.95 ₱315

232.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$2.68 ₱171

3.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$6.35 ₱405

46.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.57 ₱100

49.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.51 ₱96.4

-35.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.01 ₱128

-20.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.02 ₱64.9

47.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$1.71 ₱109

-25.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$1.19 ₱75.5

-7.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$0.66 ₱41.80

7.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.52 ₱33.32

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.97 ₱189

39.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$3.72 ₱237

370.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$0.89 ₱56.9

80.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.52 ₱97.1

82.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.24 ₱15.31

262.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$8.05 ₱513

571.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$0.75 ₱47.49

54.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.22 ₱13.93

140.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$1.30 ₱82.7

86.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.11 ₱71.0

30.63%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$21.2K ₱1.4M

-0.81%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$19.0K ₱1.2M

41.75%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$87.4 ₱5,565

-28.85%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$5.34 ₱340

127.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$23.23 ₱1,480

-13.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$39.36 ₱2,507

-5.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$15.91 ₱1,014

-76.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$5.11 ₱326

27.01%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$130 ₱8,272

466.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$10.5K ₱669.1K

40.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$28.72 ₱1,829

85.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$18.79 ₱1,197

31.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$62.0 ₱3,947

47.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$47.50 ₱3,025

51.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$87.2 ₱5,555

452.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$70.5 ₱4,492

337.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$248 ₱15.8K

305.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$163 ₱10.4K

288.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$370 ₱23.5K

539.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$284 ₱18.1K

460.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$208 ₱13.3K

183.37%

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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Tarlac City

$71 13.5% 77.2% $238

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Tarlac City

$148 28.4% 36.7% $86

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Tarlac City

$71 13.5% 35% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Tarlac City

$116 22.2% 22.8% $21

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Tarlac City

$57 10.9% 26.8% $21

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Tarlac City

$11 2.1% 82.3% $51

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Tarlac City

$50 9.5% 1.4% $0.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $87 in Tarlac 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 2.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $8 in Tarlac City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $148 – making Tarlac City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇭 Tarlac City

🕒 Local time

07:09 7:09 AM

08:09 8:09 AM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

385,398

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 PHP = 1.57 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 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 63.69 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.12 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Tarlac City 2,320 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

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

Chiang Mai costs about 79% more than Tarlac 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 $784 in Tarlac City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tarlac City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $87 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $130 in Tarlac City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Tarlac City, where all-in costs run around $523, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Tarlac City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tarlac 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.

If budget matters most, go with Tarlac 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.