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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $383 in Port Blair, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $613 in Port Blair, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $842 in Port Blair, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Port Blair, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Port Blair are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Port Blair 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$2.35 ₹225

-13.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$10.30 ₹985

81.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$3.68 ₹352

113.59%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.58 ₹151

28.48%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.40 ₹38.61

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.15 ₹14.01

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$1.69 ₹162

26.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.07 ₹294

19.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.71 ₹68.0

143.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.45 ₹42.93

248.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$0.72 ₹69.1

66.67%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$0.95 ₹90.6

107.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$4.85 ₹464

234.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.94 ₹281

4.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.03 ₹194

36.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$0.68 ₹64.8

72.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$0.99 ₹95.1

72.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.51 ₹48.56

211.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.38 ₹36.57

265.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.45 ₹42.86

157.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.49 ₹46.54

34.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.32 ₹30.45

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.84 ₹367

21.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$6.58 ₹629

170.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.76 ₹168

1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.80 ₹268

19.29%

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

$5.10 ₹488

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.30 ₹28.86

203.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$8.78 ₹840

112.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$0.83 ₹78.9

69.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$1.44 ₹137

463.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.18 ₹112

4.24%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$13.9K ₹1.3M

54.60%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$21.8K ₹2.1M

0.17%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$39.68 ₹3,795

79.76%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$3.44 ₹329

307.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$7.33 ₹701

144.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$15.85 ₹1,516

157.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$7.00 ₹670

-1.71%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.39 ₹420

30.30%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$52.3 ₹5,000

489.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$1,540 ₹147.3K

853.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$24.32 ₹2,325

129.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$25.35 ₹2,424

2.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$43.41 ₹4,152

95.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$31.65 ₹3,027

124.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$96.8 ₹9,262

337.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$74.7 ₹7,145

224.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$271 ₹25.9K

194.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$177 ₹16.9K

186.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$1,009 ₹96.5K

90.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$521 ₹49.9K

180.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$624 ₹59.7K

-4.71%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Port Blair: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $96.8 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 5% 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 $10.00 in Port Blair. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $104 – 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 122% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $575 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $52.3 in Port Blair. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 136% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $383 in Port Blair, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Blair costs $383 versus $852 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.