🙂A single person spends $751 per month in Legazpi vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,154 per month in Legazpi vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,556 per month in Legazpi vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Legazpi is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Legazpi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Legazpi44% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Legazpi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.49₱215
$1.94฿63.5
79.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.78₱1,466
$18.64฿609
27.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.02₱186
$7.82฿255
-61.38%
Cappuccino
$2.24₱138
$1.95฿63.8
14.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43₱26.32
$0.85฿27.77
-49.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₱22.47
$0.35฿11.58
2.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.99₱61.2
$2.13฿69.6
-53.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61₱223
$3.73฿122
-3.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Legazpi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72₱106
$1.71฿56.0
0.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32₱81.6
$1.63฿53.2
-19.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₱62.7
$1.14฿37.15
-10.53%
Eggs
$2.14₱132
$1.93฿63.1
10.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.16₱750
$16.21฿530
-24.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.84₱237
$3.12฿102
23.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.03₱433
$10.90฿356
-35.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99₱184
$2.75฿90.0
8.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16₱133
$1.21฿39.52
78.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.61₱223
$1.62฿53.0
122.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73₱107
$1.59฿51.8
8.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.68₱166
$1.40฿45.70
91.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82₱112
$1.17฿38.17
55.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79₱111
$0.66฿21.60
171.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92₱56.8
$0.53฿17.22
73.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34₱268
$4.69฿153
-7.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.96₱491
$18.66฿609
-57.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16₱71.8
$1.80฿58.8
-35.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47₱214
$3.23฿106
7.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Legazpi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22₱13.55
$0.90฿29.26
-75.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.62₱38.07
$1.41฿45.91
-56.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₱16.74
$1.29฿42.12
-79.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.71₱167
$7.84฿256
-65.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₱75.2
$1.27฿41.58
-3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K₱1.6M
$21.3K฿694.9K
23.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₱1.2M
$22.2K฿725.4K
-9.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Legazpi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150₱9,241
$69.1฿2,256
116.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.65₱1,458
$14.08฿460
67.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.96₱2,218
$18.00฿588
99.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Legazpi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.45₱2,124
$41.06฿1,341
-16.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.55₱281
$6.96฿227
-34.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.38₱331
$5.92฿193
-9.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Legazpi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$71.4₱4,404
$299฿9,766
-76.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,372₱269.6K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-70.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Legazpi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.03₱2,838
$54.7฿1,787
-15.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.00₱1,665
$26.77฿874
0.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.6₱4,415
$85.0฿2,776
-15.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5₱4,348
$70.6฿2,306
-0.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Legazpi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$160₱9,859
$428฿14.0K
-62.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107₱6,621
$237฿7,752
-54.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$377₱23.2K
$801฿26.2K
-53.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$219₱13.5K
$515฿16.8K
-57.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,762₱170.3K
$1,975฿64.5K
39.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$910₱56.1K
$1,475฿48.2K
-38.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Legazpi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$273₱16.9K
$617฿20.2K
-55.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.12
5
102.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Legazpi: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Legazpi versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 126% 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 $24.00 in Legazpi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Legazpi vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Legazpi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Legazpi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Legazpi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Legazpi, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Legazpi vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,127 per month in Legazpi and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Legazpi or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Legazpi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Legazpi vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Legazpi and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Legazpi or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 7% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Legazpi or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $751 in Legazpi and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Legazpi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Legazpi costs $751 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Legazpi compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Legazpi or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Legazpi. 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.