Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangasinan and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Pangasinan: $778 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Pangasinan, Philippines
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Pangasinan
🇵🇭 Philippines
$778
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pangasinan and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pangasinan and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $778 per month in Pangasinan vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pangasinan $778
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,151 per month in Pangasinan vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pangasinan $1,151
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,523 per month in Pangasinan vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pangasinan $1,523
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Pangasinan is about 17% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Pangasinan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pangasinan 43% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pangasinan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.19 ₱75.9
$2.24 ฿75.5
-46.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.19 ₱842
$19.00 ฿640
-30.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.96 ₱253
$5.55 ฿187
-28.65%
Cappuccino
$2.63 ₱168
$1.67 ฿56.4
57.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₱70.8
$0.64 ฿21.51
73.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱31.54
$0.31 ฿10.29
58.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.82 ₱52.3
$2.36 ฿79.4
-65.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 ₱197
$3.66 ฿123
-15.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pangasinan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 ₱71.3
$1.95 ฿65.6
-42.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ₱48.15
$1.44 ฿48.39
-47.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ₱46.33
$1.33 ฿44.96
-45.11%
Eggs
$2.44 ₱155
$2.28 ฿76.9
7.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.12 ₱454
$16.45 ฿554
-56.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.70 ₱300
$2.78 ฿93.7
69.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.96 ₱445
$9.31 ฿314
-25.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 ₱148
$2.35 ฿79.3
-1.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 ₱126
$0.97 ฿32.75
103.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.19 ₱203
$1.60 ฿53.8
99.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.28 ₱145
$1.50 ฿50.6
52.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 ₱220
$1.28 ฿43.05
168.75%
Onion (1kg)
$3.36 ₱214
$1.10 ฿37.13
205.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₱69.7
$0.71 ฿23.78
53.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₱36.08
$0.49 ฿16.34
16.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55 ₱163
$4.14 ฿140
-38.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.00 ₱510
$17.52 ฿590
-54.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 ₱87.0
$1.61 ฿54.4
-15.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ₱130
$2.78 ฿93.8
-26.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Pangasinan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₱12.94
$0.87 ฿29.26
-77.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.34 ₱851
$54.1 ฿1,822
-75.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.64 ₱41.05
$1.16 ฿38.99
-44.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.73
$0.53 ฿17.77
-56.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.92 ₱122
$2.42 ฿81.6
-20.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 ₱59.8
$1.45 ฿48.81
-35.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ₱1.3M
$21.1K ฿709.5K
-1.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₱1.2M
$26.9K ฿907.7K
-28.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pangasinan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 ₱9,861
$62.2 ฿2,095
148.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.59 ₱995
$12.17 ฿410
28.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.21 ₱2,056
$20.12 ฿678
60.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pangasinan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.13 ₱1,796
$37.31 ฿1,257
-24.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.63 ₱360
$3.77 ฿127
49.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85 ₱438
$6.49 ฿219
5.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pangasinan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 ₱8,174
$736 ฿24.8K
-82.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,285 ₱465.1K
$14.8K ฿497.4K
-50.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pangasinan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.75 ₱2,091
$53.4 ฿1,798
-38.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.52 ₱1,247
$24.64 ฿830
-20.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₱5,063
$91.5 ฿3,082
-13.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5 ₱3,545
$71.9 ฿2,424
-22.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pangasinan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$245 ₱15.6K
$482 ฿16.2K
-49.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$165 ₱10.5K
$309 ฿10.4K
-46.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₱28.5K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-55.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$328 ₱21.0K
$633 ฿21.3K
-48.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,968 ₱189.5K
$2,363 ฿79.6K
25.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,164 ₱74.3K
$1,589 ฿53.5K
-26.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pangasinan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
5.57
34.65%

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

Last update for Pangasinan: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pangasinan
$202
Chiang Mai
$94 53.3% $108
Groceries & Markets
Pangasinan
$200
Chiang Mai
$234 17.4% $35
Accommodation & Living
Pangasinan
$165
Chiang Mai
$309 87.8% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Pangasinan
$84
Chiang Mai
$109 29% $24
Eating Out
Pangasinan
$70
Chiang Mai
$78 11.4% $7.9
Sport & Entertainment
Pangasinan
$42
Chiang Mai
$50 20.2% $8.4
Getting Around
Pangasinan
$16
Chiang Mai
$61 285% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $245 in Pangasinan versus $482 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13 in Pangasinan versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $234 – making Pangasinan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Pangasinan
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
13:37 1:37 PM
12:37 12:37 PM
1 h behind Pangasinan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,188,540
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 63.85 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.15 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 33.69 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pangasinan Chiang Mai 2,290 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Pangasinan
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Pangasinan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pangasinan or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Pangasinan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Pangasinan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,167 per month in Pangasinan and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pangasinan or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pangasinan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $245 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Pangasinan and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $128 per month in Pangasinan and $736 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Pangasinan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Pangasinan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Pangasinan is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 17% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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