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

😐 Solo nomad: Manila is 4.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 11.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Manila is 4.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 12.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.25 ₱292
$2.02 ฿65.3
159.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.12 ₱1,455
$18.78 ฿608
39.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.48 ₱250
$7.67 ฿248
-41.59%
Cappuccino
$2.67 ₱148
$1.98 ฿64.2
34.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₱50.5
$0.82 ฿26.64
10.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱29.61
$0.33 ฿10.58
60.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 ₱86.5
$2.12 ฿68.6
-26.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ₱149
$3.73 ฿121
-28.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.9 ₱106
$1.64 ฿53.2
15.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 ₱74.7
$1.57 ฿50.9
-14.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 ₱60.6
$1.19 ฿38.62
-8.40%
Eggs
$2.15 ₱120
$1.98 ฿64.1
8.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.46 ₱527
$15.99 ฿517
-40.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.32 ₱296
$3.12 ฿101
70.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 ₱478
$11.16 ฿361
-23.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 ₱191
$2.76 ฿89.2
24.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 ₱101
$1.22 ฿39.5
49.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.59 ₱200
$1.71 ฿55.4
109.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 ₱134
$1.55 ฿50.2
55.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 ₱154
$1.34 ฿43.21
106.72%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 ₱169
$1.21 ฿39.23
151.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 ₱108
$0.72 ฿23.2
169.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₱35.46
$0.53 ฿17.05
20.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 ₱192
$4.72 ฿153
-27.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.57 ₱477
$18.39 ฿595
-53.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 ₱84
$1.79 ฿57.9
-15.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ₱118
$3.21 ฿104
-33.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Manila
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 ₱26.9
$0.94 ฿30.44
-48.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.17 ₱678
$18.9 ฿612
-35.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 ₱51.3
$1.42 ฿46.08
-35.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₱15.08
$1.35 ฿43.53
-80.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 ₱120
$7.85 ฿254
-72.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ₱65.3
$1.25 ฿40.4
-6.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27K ₱1.5M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
27.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23K ₱1.3M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
5.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 ₱7,714
$70.6 ฿2,285
96.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.08 ₱1,229
$13.72 ฿444
60.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.22 ₱1,516
$17.56 ฿568
55.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.8 ₱2,383
$41.64 ฿1,347
2.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ₱384
$6.9 ฿223
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₱368
$5.8 ฿188
13.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$364 ₱20.2K
$308 ฿9,963
18.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K ₱623.1K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-23.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.95 ₱2,558
$55.4 ฿1,793
-17.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.61 ₱1,983
$26.4 ฿854
34.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.5 ₱4,648
$85.1 ฿2,755
-1.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.92 ₱2,612
$71.8 ฿2,323
-34.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manila
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 ₱28K
$434 ฿14K
15.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 ₱14.6K
$235 ฿7,610
11.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,724 ₱96K
$821 ฿26.6K
109.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 ₱34.6K
$498 ฿16.1K
24.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,633 ₱202.3K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
66.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,336 ₱130.1K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
51.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ₱27.4K
$703 ฿22.8K
-30.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.52
5
50.40%

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

Last update for Manila: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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