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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $388 in Port Blair, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $619 in Port Blair, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $849 in Port Blair, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 124% more than Port Blair, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Port Blair are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Port Blair 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.31 ₹220

-14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.60 ₹1,008

77.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.80 ₹361

103.95%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.57 ₹149

22.29%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.40 ₹38.32

97.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.15 ₹14.18

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.71 ₹163

29.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.99 ₹284

22.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.66 ₹62.5

150.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.49 ₹46.43

232.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.67 ₹63.5

77.61%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.89 ₹84.4

124.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.12 ₹487

212.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.92 ₹278

3.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.07 ₹197

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.68 ₹64.5

73.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.95 ₹90.1

72.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.53 ₹50.8

186.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.36 ₹34.06

283.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.45 ₹42.92

164.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.48 ₹46.03

45.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.35 ₹32.84

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.99 ₹379

14.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$8.10 ₹770

104.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.69 ₹160

8.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.77 ₹263

15.52%

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

$5.28 ₹502

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.30 ₹28.54

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$8.61 ₹818

117.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.78 ₹74.1

74.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.48 ₹141

429.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.16 ₹110

6.03%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$13.7K ₹1.3M

57.71%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$21.8K ₹2.1M

3.23%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$39.58 ₹3,764

78.22%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.47 ₹330

294.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$7.36 ₹700

137.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$15.99 ₹1,521

158.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.93 ₹659

0.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.37 ₹415

32.04%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$51.0 ₹4,854

501.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,522 ₹144.8K

859.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$24.04 ₹2,286

132.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$24.71 ₹2,350

6.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$43.31 ₹4,118

97.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$31.87 ₹3,030

126.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$95.2 ₹9,050

351.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$77.4 ₹7,365

208.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$270 ₹25.7K

202.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$182 ₹17.3K

181.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$985 ₹93.7K

101.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$517 ₹49.2K

186.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$638 ₹60.7K

-3.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.67

-42.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Port Blair: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $95.2 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 3% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Port Blair. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $107 – 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 124% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $582 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $51.0 in Port Blair. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 126% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $388 in Port Blair, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Blair costs $388 versus $869 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.