Earn Here, Spend ThereWhat is this money worth over there?
Compare cities › Chiang Mai vs Manila
Chiang Mai vs Manila cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇠Chiang Mai
🇵🇠ManilaChiang Mai is 69% cheaper than Manila
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $1,616 in Manila — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $94.2
Per month
$994 vs $1,616
Local meal
฿ 55 vs ₱ 180
$1.67 vs $3.16
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs ₱ 130
$1.58 vs $2.28
At a glance
FoodChiang Mai 39% cheaper
Cafés & drinksManila 13% cheaper
TransportManila 14% cheaper
StayChiang Mai 48% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Manila is clearly cheaper: Transit (71%↓), Cocktail & wine (37%↓), Beer (35%↓)
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Hotel night (51%↓), Local meal (47%↓), Street food (47%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Manila | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | ₱ 180$3.16 | Chiang Mai −47% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₱ 81$1.42 | Chiang Mai −47% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₱ 600$10.5 | Chiang Mai −14% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | ₱ 150$2.63 | Chiang Mai −25% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | ₱ 90$1.58 | Manila −35% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | ₱ 230$4.04 | Manila −37% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ₱ 25$0.44 | Chiang Mai −31% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₱ 63$1.11 | Chiang Mai −31% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | ₱ 130$2.28 | Chiang Mai −31% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | ₱ 86$1.51 | Manila −16% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ₱ 15$0.26 | Manila −71% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₱ 460$8.07 | Chiang Mai −10% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | ₱ 3,500$61.4 | Chiang Mai −51% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | ₱ 28,000$491 | Chiang Mai −44% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | ₱ 86$1.51 | Chiang Mai −12% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₱ 340$5.96 | Manila −18% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | ₱ 180$3.16 | Manila −5% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₱ 510$8.95 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | ₱ 2,000$35.1 | Chiang Mai −23% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₱ 340$5.96 | Manila −18% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chiang Mai or Manila?
Chiang Mai is 69% cheaper than Manila. Daily budget $53.8 vs $94.2; a month $994 vs $1,616.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Manila?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 and Manila about $1,616 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.