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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $383 in Port Blair, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $607 in Port Blair, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $832 in Port Blair, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 121% more than Port Blair, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Port Blair are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Port Blair 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$2.39 ₹225

-18.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$10.68 ₹1,002

72.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$3.63 ₹340

106.61%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.59 ₹150

21.38%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.37 ₹35.13

110.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.17 ₹16.31

88.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.77 ₹166

21.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$3.00 ₹282

23.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$0.70 ₹65.9

144.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.45 ₹41.96

246.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$0.67 ₹62.6

76.12%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$0.90 ₹84.3

120.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$5.10 ₹479

214.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$2.98 ₹279

6.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$2.00 ₹187

31.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$0.72 ₹67.3

62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$0.93 ₹87.8

77.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.50 ₹47.37

208.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.38 ₹36.03

263.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.44 ₹41.71

165.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.48 ₹45.24

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.32 ₹29.57

59.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$4.03 ₹379

12.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$7.32 ₹687

150.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.77 ₹166

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.80 ₹263

13.57%

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

$5.05 ₹474

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.30 ₹28.37

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$8.74 ₹820

117.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.84 ₹78.8

67.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$1.43 ₹135

465.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.22 ₹115

4.92%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$14.1K ₹1.3M

50.78%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$21.6K ₹2.0M

0.35%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$39.10 ₹3,669

76.98%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$3.53 ₹331

295.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$7.32 ₹687

145.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$16.16 ₹1,517

161.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$6.98 ₹655

-4.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$4.35 ₹408

36.09%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$50.7 ₹4,755

490.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$1,557 ₹146.2K

853.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$24.54 ₹2,303

128.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$25.60 ₹2,403

5.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$43.18 ₹4,053

96.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$31.87 ₹2,991

125.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$96.9 ₹9,095

348.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$76.0 ₹7,133

215.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$278 ₹26.1K

186.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$183 ₹17.2K

172.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$946 ₹88.8K

110.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$523 ₹49.1K

193.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$651 ₹61.1K

-3.44%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Port Blair: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $97 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 4% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $11 in Port Blair. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $105 – 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 121% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $574 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $50.7 in Port Blair. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 132% 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 $845 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 $845 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.