Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Port Blair Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Port Blair

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $358 in Port Blair, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $574 in Port Blair, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $789 in Port Blair, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Port Blair, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Port Blair are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Port Blair 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$2.14 ₹205

-2.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$10.51 ₹1,009

86.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.63 ₹349

56.20%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.61 ₹155

12.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.41 ₹39.23

87.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.12 ₹11.82

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.68 ₹161

31.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.20 ₹307

18.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.66 ₹63.8

210.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.44 ₹41.95

243.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.61 ₹58.9

129.51%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.87 ₹83.6

159.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$4.38 ₹420

269.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.79 ₹268

3.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.84 ₹176

45.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.65 ₹62.4

67.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.95 ₹90.9

70.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.47 ₹44.86

210.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.33 ₹31.30

287.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.38 ₹35.98

178.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.45 ₹42.83

60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.29 ₹28.05

82.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.17 ₹496

-18.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.81 ₹749

134.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.66 ₹160

-1.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.35 ₹226

23.40%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.51 ₹529

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.26 ₹24.97

238.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$7.06 ₹677

661.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.84 ₹80.2

39.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.27 ₹25.72

114.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.49 ₹142

60.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.09 ₹105

33.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$12.4K ₹1.2M

68.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$16.8K ₹1.6M

57.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,125

$34.97 ₹3,355

82.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.89 ฿430

$3.32 ₹319

288.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$7.12 ₹683

188.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$14.94 ₹1,433

161.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$6.89 ₹661

-43.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.00 ₹384

64.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.2K

$47.13 ₹4,522

1563.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,564 ₹150.0K

838.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$22.33 ₹2,142

146.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$22.14 ₹2,124

11.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$37.41 ₹3,589

151.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$23.91 ₹2,294

209.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$87.0 ₹8,349

463.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$72.9 ₹6,991

295.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$261 ₹25.1K

241.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$144 ₹13.9K

260.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$963 ₹92.4K

104.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$515 ₹49.4K

180.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$616 ₹59.1K

-2.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.86

-37.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Port Blair: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $87.0 in Port Blair. 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 2% higher in Port Blair, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Port Blair. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $99.0 – making Port Blair 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 Blair: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Port Blair, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $537 in Port Blair. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Blair, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $47.13 in Port Blair. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 144% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Port Blair, where all-in costs run around $358, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Port Blair it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Blair costs $358 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Port Blair. 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.