ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,643 in Port Angeles, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,800 in Port Angeles, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,957 in Port Angeles, rent included.
ðChiang Mai is about 68% cheaper than Port Angeles, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðChiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Port Angeles is 97% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Port Angeles
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ63.3
$22.47$22.47
-91.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ608
$65.4$65.4
-71.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ256
$12.70$12.70
-37.64%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ61.9
$5.12$5.12
-62.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.11
$4.87$4.87
-82.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.38
$2.37$2.37
-85.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ71.3
$3.72$3.72
-40.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ123
$4.06$4.06
-6.40%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Port Angeles
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ52.9
$1.13$1.13
45.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ52.5
$4.28$4.28
-62.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.20
$2.80$2.80
-57.86%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.1
$4.95$4.95
-59.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ514
$14.84$14.84
7.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ97.4
$10.62$10.62
-71.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ348
$14.99$14.99
-28.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ84.5
$5.05$5.05
-48.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.44
$1.79$1.79
-31.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.1
$4.86$4.86
-65.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.0
$3.70$3.70
-57.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ42.67
$2.48$2.48
-46.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ37.81
$3.95$3.95
-70.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.74
$2.55$2.55
-73.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.11
$3.08$3.08
-81.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ147
$14.88$14.88
-69.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ589
$16.27$16.27
11.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ59.3
$2.15$2.15
-14.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ104
$3.62$3.62
-10.77%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Port Angeles
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ28.68
$2.02$2.02
-55.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ627
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ43.72
$3.45$3.45
-60.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ43.56
$1.60$1.60
-15.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ267
$28.74$28.74
-71.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.18
$1.03$1.03
23.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ684.2K
$30.2K$30.2K
-30.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ727.2K
$25.5K$25.5K
-11.95%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Port Angeles
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,269
$158$158
-55.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ445
$51.6$51.6
-73.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ569
$71.1$71.1
-75.23%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Port Angeles
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,345
$65.7$65.7
-36.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ213
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ187
$18.24$18.24
-68.31%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Port Angeles
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ9,901
$2,118$2,118
-85.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ479.4K
$30.2K$30.2K
-50.90%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Port Angeles
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,758
$58.9$58.9
-7.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ845
$37.84$37.84
-30.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,734
$98.8$98.8
-14.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,245
$116$116
-40.15%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Port Angeles
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.7K
$1,583$1,583
-73.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,703
$1,358$1,358
-82.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ26.7K
$2,824$2,824
-70.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.7K
$2,191$2,191
-76.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ66.3K
$3,442$3,442
-40.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.2K
$3,345$3,345
-54.47%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Port Angeles
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.61
-24.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Port Angeles: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $1,583 in Port Angeles. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $65 in Port Angeles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $415 â making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Chiang Mai vs Port Angeles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Port Angeles?
Port Angeles costs about 210% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Chiang Mai vs Port Angeles?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,965 in Port Angeles. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Port Angeles?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 Chiang Mai vs Port Angeles?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $65.0 in Port Angeles. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Port Angeles?
Groceries cost about 70% more in Port Angeles, 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Port Angeles?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Port Angeles at $2,643. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Angeles it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Port Angeles?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,643 in Port Angeles. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Port Angeles?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Port Angeles?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Angeles makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared