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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,267 per month in Isabela vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,971 per month in Isabela vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,676 per month in Isabela vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Isabela costs about 36% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Isabela and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Isabela 7% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.38 $18.38

$2.08 ฿69.3

783.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.3 $85.3

$19.61 ฿653

335.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.15 $9.15

$5.67 ฿189

61.38%

Cappuccino

$3.72 $3.72

$1.81 ฿60.1

105.52%

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

$1.84 $1.84

$0.77 ฿25.58

138.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.35 ฿11.49

331.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.21 ฿73.7

33.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 $4.87

$3.79 ฿126

28.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.05 ฿68.2

-8.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.51 ฿50.4

93.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.40 ฿46.57

-14.29%

Eggs

$2.94 $2.94

$2.26 ฿75.2

30.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 $11.15

$16.19 ฿539

-31.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$2.90 ฿96.4

128.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 $13.52

$9.42 ฿314

43.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.68 ฿89.2

64.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.09 ฿36.28

133.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$1.62 ฿53.8

198.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$1.46 ฿48.61

236.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.28 ฿42.54

190.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$1.06 ฿35.21

270.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.43 $3.43

$0.72 ฿23.88

376.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.53 ฿17.51

198.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 $11.86

$4.23 ฿141

180.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.49 $15.49

$18.29 ฿609

-15.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.63 ฿54.3

88.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.90 ฿96.6

35.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.17 ฿39.04

111.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.58 ฿19.25

151.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.07 $42.07

$2.39 ฿79.4

1660.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.45 ฿48.28

-42.76%

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

$40.4K $40.4K

$21.0K ฿699.5K

92.43%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$26.4K ฿879.7K

6.42%

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

$319 $319

$63.7 ฿2,119

401.93%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$12.89 ฿429

435.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 $69.2

$20.52 ฿683

237.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$10.64 $10.64

$6.58 ฿219

61.70%

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

$829 $829

$784 ฿26.1K

5.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K $12.3K

$14.7K ฿488.4K

-16.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$55.1 ฿1,835

2.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.9 $60.9

$24.74 ฿824

145.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$94.1 ฿3,133

16.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$74.0 ฿2,462

56.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

5.57

17.59%

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

Last update for Isabela: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Isabela versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai 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

Isabela vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Isabela costs about 36% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,901 per month in Isabela and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Isabela and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 49% more in Isabela, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Isabela at $1,267. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Isabela it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,267 in Isabela. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Isabela makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.