Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the Philippines and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in the Philippines: $754 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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Philippines Living Index36Cost of Living Index in the PhilippinesLearn more -
Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: The Philippines is 18.1% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 16.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: The Philippines is 13.9% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 15.4% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Philippines
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 ₱256
$2.13 ฿71.4
91.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.43 ₱1,344
$19.40 ฿649
10.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.18 ₱199
$5.47 ฿183
-41.86%
Cappuccino
$2.22 ₱139
$1.68 ฿56.4
32.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₱43.83
$0.66 ฿22.10
6.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₱22.97
$0.34 ฿11.52
8.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 ₱81.2
$2.42 ฿81.0
-46.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 ₱126
$3.73 ฿125
-46.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Philippines
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ₱106
$2.06 ฿68.9
-17.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 ₱74.1
$1.46 ฿48.78
-19.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 ₱54.3
$1.35 ฿45.09
-35.56%
Eggs
$1.96 ₱123
$2.27 ฿76.0
-13.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.95 ₱436
$16.31 ฿546
-57.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.29 ₱269
$2.70 ฿90.3
58.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.07 ₱444
$9.20 ฿308
-23.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ₱182
$2.39 ฿80.1
21.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 ₱90.2
$1.04 ฿34.66
38.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.52 ₱158
$1.60 ฿53.7
57.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.4
$1.44 ฿48.37
4.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 ₱137
$1.30 ฿43.59
68.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 ₱161
$1.11 ฿37.29
130.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 ₱83.2
$0.70 ฿23.55
90.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₱40.91
$0.51 ฿16.99
27.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83 ₱177
$4.13 ฿138
-31.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.20 ₱389
$17.78 ฿595
-65.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ₱73.5
$1.63 ฿54.7
-28.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱108
$2.87 ฿96.0
-39.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Philippines
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₱17.68
$0.86 ฿28.76
-67.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.71 ₱797
$53.2 ฿1,780
-76.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 ₱48.96
$1.22 ฿40.81
-36.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.43
$0.56 ฿18.81
-58.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₱118
$2.31 ฿77.5
-18.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₱72.6
$1.50 ฿50.2
-22.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$20.9K ฿698.3K
1.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K ₱1.2M
$26.7K ฿895.0K
-27.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Philippines
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ₱6,459
$61.3 ฿2,051
68.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.13 ₱886
$12.50 ฿419
13.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.09 ₱1,699
$20.36 ฿682
33.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Philippines
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.47 ₱1,974
$37.94 ฿1,270
-17.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95 ₱373
$3.77 ฿126
57.82%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
$6.60 ฿221
-17.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Philippines
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$142 ₱8,889
$774 ฿25.9K
-81.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,663 ₱355.2K
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-60.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Philippines
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.92 ₱2,755
$54.8 ฿1,835
-19.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.08 ₱1,510
$25.26 ฿846
-4.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.1 ₱4,210
$90.6 ฿3,032
-25.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.4 ₱3,789
$73.3 ฿2,453
-17.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Philippines
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$322 ₱20.2K
$459 ฿15.4K
-29.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$184 ₱11.5K
$294 ฿9,835
-37.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$652 ₱40.9K
$919 ฿30.8K
-29.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 ₱22.2K
$552 ฿18.5K
-35.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,998 ₱188.0K
$1,917 ฿64.2K
56.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,394 ₱87.4K
$1,445 ฿48.4K
-3.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Philippines
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$313 ₱19.6K
$592 ฿19.8K
-47.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.57
29.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the Philippines: October 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Philippines $191 25.5%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 23.7% $45
Accommodation & Living
Philippines $184 24.6%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 59.8% $110
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Philippines $144 19.3%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 34.7% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Philippines $88 11.8%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 24.7% $22
Eating Out
Philippines $84 11.2%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 7.6% $6.3
Sport & Entertainment
Philippines $42 5.7%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 20.6% $8.8
Getting Around
Philippines $16 2.1%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 284% $45
Groceries & Markets
Philippines $448 28.8%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 18.1% $81
Accommodation & Living
Philippines $355 22.8%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 55.6% $197
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Philippines $158 10.2%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 32.6% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Philippines $196 12.6%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 24.7% $48
Eating Out
Philippines $275 17.7%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 11.3% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Philippines $91 5.8%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 16.9% $15
Getting Around
Philippines $32 2.1%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 283% $91
Good to know
🇵🇭 Philippines
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
109,035,343
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Philippines Chiang Mai 2,390 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
- Philippines
- 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
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