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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $717 per month in Pasig vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,218 per month in Pasig vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,719 per month in Pasig vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pasig is about 23% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pasig and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pasig 48% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pasig
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.04 ₱253
$2.08 ฿69.5
94.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.71 ₱1,612
$19.61 ฿655
31.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.87 ₱180
$5.67 ฿189
-49.38%
Cappuccino
$2.31 ₱145
$1.81 ฿60.3
27.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₱41.55
$0.77 ฿25.65
-14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₱20.73
$0.35 ฿11.53
-5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 ₱76.4
$2.21 ฿73.9
-44.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ₱172
$3.79 ฿127
-27.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pasig
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ₱109
$2.05 ฿68.4
-15.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.15 ₱72.4
$1.51 ฿50.6
-23.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.2
$1.40 ฿46.69
-27.86%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$2.26 ฿75.4
-8.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.47 ₱343
$16.19 ฿540
-66.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ₱213
$2.90 ฿96.7
17.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.84 ₱491
$9.42 ฿314
-16.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 ₱197
$2.68 ฿89.4
17.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 ₱100
$1.09 ฿36.37
46.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.87 ₱180
$1.62 ฿54.0
77.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.71 ₱107
$1.46 ฿48.74
17.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 ₱139
$1.28 ฿42.65
72.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.59 ₱163
$1.06 ฿35.31
144.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 ₱130
$0.72 ฿23.94
188.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₱36.70
$0.53 ฿17.56
11.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$4.23 ฿141
-29.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.70 ₱608
$18.29 ฿611
-46.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₱80.8
$1.63 ฿54.4
-20.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 ₱124
$2.90 ฿96.8
-31.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Pasig
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 ₱28.62
$0.88 ฿29.32
-47.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.8 ฿1,795
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ₱51.7
$1.17 ฿39.14
-29.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.44
$0.58 ฿19.30
-60.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₱118
$2.39 ฿79.6
-21.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₱71.7
$1.45 ฿48.41
-21.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ₱1.3M
$21.0K ฿701.4K
-0.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K ₱1.2M
$26.4K ฿882.0K
-28.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pasig
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ₱7,805
$63.7 ฿2,125
95.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.53 ₱1,100
$12.89 ฿430
36.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.51 ₱1,537
$20.52 ฿685
19.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pasig
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.52 ₱1,914
$39.02 ฿1,302
-21.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92 ฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.46 ₱405
$6.58 ฿220
-1.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pasig
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 ₱8,414
$784 ฿26.2K
-82.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,016 ₱565.5K
$14.7K ฿489.8K
-38.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pasig
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.97 ₱2,131
$55.1 ฿1,840
-38.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.70 ₱1,737
$24.74 ฿826
11.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.7 ₱4,435
$94.1 ฿3,142
-24.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.7 ₱3,430
$74.0 ฿2,469
-26.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pasig
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$274 ₱17.2K
$490 ฿16.4K
-44.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$127 ₱7,989
$288 ฿9,620
-55.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$507 ₱31.8K
$891 ฿29.8K
-43.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$475 ₱29.8K
$521 ฿17.4K
-8.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,235 ₱202.9K
$1,974 ฿65.9K
63.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,506 ₱157.2K
$1,444 ฿48.2K
73.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pasig
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$434 ₱27.2K
$602 ฿20.1K
-27.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
5.57
21.18%

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

Last update for Pasig: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $274 in Pasig versus $490 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 39% 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 $26.00 in Pasig versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Pasig vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Pasig 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
Pasig vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pasig or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Pasig, 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 Pasig and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,076 per month in Pasig and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pasig or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pasig, 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 Pasig and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Pasig and $20.00 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 Pasig or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,500/month in Pasig or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pasig, where all-in costs run around $717, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Pasig it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pasig or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pasig costs $717 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pasig 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 Pasig or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Pasig. 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.

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