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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $621 per month in Roxas vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $977 per month in Roxas vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,333 per month in Roxas vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Roxas is about 27% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Roxas and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Roxas 54% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roxas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73 ₱169
$1.96 ฿64.0
39.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.98 ₱1,294
$18.81 ฿615
11.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.51 ₱216
$7.92 ฿259
-55.68%
Cappuccino
$1.96 ₱121
$1.91 ฿62.6
2.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₱35.23
$0.84 ฿27.41
-32.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₱10.65
$0.35 ฿11.51
-51.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.94 ₱58.2
$2.21 ฿72.1
-57.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₱112
$3.80 ฿124
-52.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roxas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 ₱72.8
$1.64 ฿53.5
-28.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 ₱68.2
$1.62 ฿53.1
-31.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 ₱52.5
$1.18 ฿38.62
-27.97%
Eggs
$2.27 ₱140
$2.01 ฿65.8
12.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.00 ₱370
$15.89 ฿520
-62.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.94 ₱120
$3.01 ฿98.5
-35.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.87 ₱423
$10.77 ฿352
-36.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.30 ₱80.3
$2.61 ฿85.5
-50.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ₱73.0
$1.22 ฿39.88
-3.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ₱89.4
$1.70 ฿55.7
-14.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 ₱72.0
$1.58 ฿51.5
-25.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 ₱64.7
$1.32 ฿43.14
-20.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 ₱50.1
$1.17 ฿38.23
-30.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 ₱68.5
$0.67 ฿21.98
65.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₱25.94
$0.56 ฿18.32
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96 ₱182
$4.53 ฿148
-34.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.31 ₱512
$18.20 ฿595
-54.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 ₱77.2
$1.83 ฿60.0
-31.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 ₱85.9
$3.23 ฿106
-56.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Roxas
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱16.00
$0.89 ฿29.00
-70.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.38 ฿634
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 ₱41.91
$1.35 ฿44.20
-49.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱14.82
$1.35 ฿44.05
-82.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 ₱163
$8.25 ฿270
-67.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₱67.1
$1.27 ฿41.64
-14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K ₱1.5M
$21.2K ฿691.8K
14.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$22.5K ฿735.3K
-13.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roxas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.6 ₱4,108
$70.2 ฿2,294
-5.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.97 ₱553
$13.77 ฿450
-34.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.72 ₱1,772
$17.60 ฿575
63.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roxas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.41 ₱2,061
$41.57 ฿1,360
-19.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.30 ₱265
$6.60 ฿216
-34.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.20 ₱321
$5.78 ฿189
-10.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roxas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$35.53 ₱2,191
$306 ฿10.0K
-88.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,274 ₱263.6K
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-71.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roxas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.05 ₱2,779
$54.4 ฿1,778
-17.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.27 ₱1,435
$26.14 ฿855
-10.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.0 ₱3,826
$84.5 ฿2,764
-26.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.78 ₱1,652
$69.4 ฿2,270
-61.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roxas
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$360 ₱22.2K
$424 ฿13.9K
-15.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 ₱10.8K
$238 ฿7,788
-26.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 ₱36.0K
$825 ฿27.0K
-29.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 ₱24.5K
$515 ฿16.8K
-22.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,089 ₱128.9K
$2,049 ฿67.0K
1.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,523 ฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roxas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$598 ₱36.9K
$635 ฿20.8K
-5.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
5
60.00%

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

Last update for Roxas: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Roxas versus $424 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 6% 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 $21.00 in Roxas versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Roxas vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Roxas 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
Roxas vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Roxas or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Roxas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Roxas vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $932 per month in Roxas and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Roxas or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Roxas, 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 Roxas vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Roxas 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 Roxas or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 63% 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 Roxas or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $621 in Roxas and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Roxas or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Roxas costs $621 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Roxas 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 Roxas or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Roxas. 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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