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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $643 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,018 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,393 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Tuguegarao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tuguegarao are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Tuguegarao 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.72 ₱106

13.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$13.51 ₱833

39.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$2.59 ₱160

205.79%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.33 ₱144

-18.03%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.48 ₱29.80

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.31 ₱19.11

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.45 ₱89.3

52.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.92 ₱119

97.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.92 ₱118

-14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.19 ₱73.5

36.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.81 ₱50.1

45.68%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.21 ₱136

-9.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.38 ₱394

149.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.73 ₱230

-19.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.55 ₱528

25.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.68 ₱165

-2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.85 ₱114

-34.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.35 ₱145

-27.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.17 ₱72.3

35.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.91 ₱118

-30.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$2.23 ₱138

-47.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.72 ₱44.53

-6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.70 ₱43.36

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.16 ₱133

109.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.11 ₱562

99.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.06 ₱65.5

72.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.25 ₱139

43.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.28 ₱17.32

217.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.93 ₱57.2

45.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.24 ₱14.82

462.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.38 ₱147

246.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.11 ₱68.7

14.41%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$32.0K ₱2.0M

-33.84%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$20.5K ₱1.3M

9.61%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$35.42 ₱2,185

98.05%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$18.07 ₱1,115

-23.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$25.83 ₱1,593

-31.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$33.38 ₱2,059

24.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$4.45 ₱275

48.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.63 ₱348

2.66%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$151 ₱9,290

103.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$4,743 ₱292.6K

212.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$48.53 ₱2,993

12.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$27.28 ₱1,683

-4.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$44.21 ₱2,727

91.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$26.42 ₱1,629

162.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$262 ₱16.2K

61.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$180 ₱11.1K

32.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$590 ₱36.4K

39.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$401 ₱24.7K

28.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$217 ₱13.4K

192.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

11.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $262 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 193% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Tuguegarao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $196 – 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 33% more than Tuguegarao, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $964 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $14.00 in Tuguegarao. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $643 in Tuguegarao, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tuguegarao costs $643 versus $852 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.