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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $467 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $748 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,029 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 97% more than Tuguegarao, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Tuguegarao are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Tuguegarao 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$1.65 ₱102

27.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$17.21 ₱1,061

14.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$2.80 ₱173

108.93%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.88 ₱116

-6.38%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.48 ₱29.72

54.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.31 ₱19.26

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.02 ₱63.1

142.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$1.58 ₱97.7

145.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.71 ₱106

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$1.19 ₱73.5

40.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$0.74 ₱45.69

82.43%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.04 ₱126

4.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$5.04 ₱311

215.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$3.54 ₱218

-20.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$7.91 ₱488

33.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$2.25 ₱139

5.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.59 ₱98.0

-32.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$2.36 ₱145

-35.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.09 ₱67.0

37.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.71 ₱106

-25.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.82 ₱112

-39.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.62 ₱38.37

11.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.54 ₱33.09

-9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.01 ₱124

112.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$8.85 ₱545

89.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.00 ₱61.8

66.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.05 ₱127

37.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.85 ₱52.1

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.25 ₱15.45

116.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$2.00 ₱123

18.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.16 ₱71.7

23.28%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-1.81%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$19.2K ₱1.2M

41.09%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$32.96 ₱2,032

96.42%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$18.07 ₱1,114

-27.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$23.82 ₱1,469

-18.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$24.36 ₱1,502

61.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$4.96 ₱306

-23.99%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$5.34 ₱329

23.97%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$138 ₱8,495

484.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$10.7K ₱660.0K

41.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$29.27 ₱1,804

87.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$19.74 ₱1,217

28.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$40.38 ₱2,489

127.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$24.58 ₱1,515

203.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$127 ₱7,851

266.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$63.9 ₱3,942

340.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$197 ₱12.2K

352.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$132 ₱8,141

294.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$209 ₱12.9K

183.08%

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $127 in Tuguegarao. 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 183% 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 Tuguegarao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $177 – making Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 97% more than Tuguegarao, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $700 in Tuguegarao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $17.00 in Tuguegarao. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tuguegarao, where all-in costs run around $467, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Tuguegarao 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. Tuguegarao costs $467 versus $920 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 Tuguegarao. 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.