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Manila vs Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai runs about 21% cheaper than Manila for this household, a difference of 259 USD a month.

Binondo skyline skyscrapers
Manila
$1,207/month · Philippines
Patrickroque01 · CC BY-SA 4.0
View of Chiang Mai City, taken from the top of Doi Suthep Mountain. Image extracted (crop) from Supanut Arunoprayote's original panoramic file. Extracted and edited (crop) under the Creative Commons A
Chiang Mai
$948/month · Thailand
Supanut Arunoprayote · CC BY 4.0
Manila monthly
$1,207
Index 19 (NYC = 100)
Chiang Mai monthly
$948
Index 15 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-21%
Chiang Mai relative to Manila
Rent gap
$120
Manila costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

ManilaChiang Mai
  • Housing
    Housing: Manila $500, Chiang Mai $380. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Food
    Food: Manila $366, Chiang Mai $300. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Transport
    Transport: Manila $48, Chiang Mai $35. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Manila $121, Chiang Mai $91. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Manila $16, Chiang Mai $14. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Manila $104, Chiang Mai $87. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Other
    Other: Manila $52, Chiang Mai $42. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricManilaChiang Mai
Cost
Total monthly cost1,207 USD948 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)1915✓
Housing500 USD380 USD✓
Utilities121 USD91 USD✓
Food366 USD300 USD✓
Transport48 USD35 USD✓
Healthcare16 USD14 USD✓
Lifestyle104 USD87 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,021 USD6,510 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate27.7%21.9%✓
Left over each month4,814 USD5,562 USD✓
Average local net salary450 USD600 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre500 USD380 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre1,100 USD850 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre3,400 USD2,000 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety46/10076/100✓
Healthcare58/10064/100✓
Air quality34/100✓28/100
Public transport30/100✓20/100
Walkability44/10052/100✓
English proficiency86/100✓38/100
Nightlife78/100✓72/100
Family friendliness60/10072/100✓
Median broadband120 Mbps180 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature28°C26°C✓
Summer high33°C✓36°C
Winter low23°C✓14°C
Sunshine hours per year2,100 h2,600 h✓
Annual rainfall2000 mm1150 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYesYes
Beach access90 min✓None nearby
CurrencyPHPTHB
Time zoneAsia/ManilaAsia/Bangkok

Chiang Mai runs about 21% cheaper than Manila for this household, a difference of 259 USD a month.

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Go deeper

Cost of living in ManilaCost of living in Chiang MaiConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Manila vs Ho Chi Minh CityManila vs Kuala LumpurManila vs Bangkok
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Manila or Chiang Mai cheaper?

Chiang Mai runs about 21% cheaper than Manila for this household, a difference of 259 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Chiang Mai compared with Manila?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,021 a month in Manila and $6,510 in Chiang Mai, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Manila or Chiang Mai?

Manila scores 46/100 on safety and 58/100 on healthcare; Chiang Mai scores 76 and 64. Manila averages 28°C against 26°C in Chiang Mai.