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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $677 in Vigan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,080 in Vigan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,482 in Vigan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Vigan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Vigan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Vigan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$3.47 ₱211

-42.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$13.03 ₱791

44.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$1.82 ₱111

325.82%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.75 ₱106

9.71%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.65 ₱39.55

21.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.40 ₱24.50

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.23 ₱74.6

79.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.80 ₱109

103.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.90 ₱116

-13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.19 ₱72.3

36.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.73 ₱44.24

63.01%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.25 ₱137

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$8.77 ₱533

82.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.71 ₱225

-18.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$7.57 ₱460

43.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.72 ₱165

1.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.65 ₱100.0

-28.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.30 ₱140

-28.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.21 ₱73.2

25.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.63 ₱99.0

-15.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.15 ₱130

-44.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.73 ₱44.08

-4.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.76 ₱46.31

-26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.35 ₱143

94.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$8.74 ₱531

89.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.03 ₱62.6

77.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.72 ₱105

86.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.28 ₱17.19

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.74 ₱44.93

83.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.18 ₱10.96

644.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.41 ₱146

225.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.16 ₱70.3

6.03%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$14.0K ₱849.0K

54.66%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$16.0K ₱972.4K

40.79%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$52.3 ₱3,175

34.90%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$34.62 ₱2,102

-60.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$25.80 ₱1,567

-32.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$33.68 ₱2,045

22.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.41 ₱268

57.82%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.59 ₱340

3.22%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$35.46 ₱2,153

765.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$4,684 ₱284.4K

211.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$49.46 ₱3,003

12.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$27.86 ₱1,692

-5.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$62.9 ₱3,821

36.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$46.97 ₱2,852

53.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$268 ₱16.3K

60.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$175 ₱10.6K

36.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$597 ₱36.2K

36.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$392 ₱23.8K

30.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,484 ₱150.8K

-20.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$960 ₱58.3K

54.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Vigan: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $268 in Vigan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $13.00 in Vigan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $196 – making Vigan 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 Vigan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Vigan, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,016 in Vigan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Vigan, 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 $13.00 in Vigan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $677 in Vigan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vigan costs $677 versus $869 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 Vigan. 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.