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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,520 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,391 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,262 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 39% cheaper than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$7.72 PGK 33.55

-73.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$45.79 PGK 199

-57.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.78 PGK 25.10

-1.90%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.47 PGK 10.72

-26.72%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.75 PGK 3.24

2.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.69 PGK 3.01

-49.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$3.06 PGK 13.30

-27.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.69 PGK 16.05

2.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.88 PGK 8.18

9.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.53 PGK 6.63

-1.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.45 PGK 6.29

-3.45%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$3.62 PGK 15.72

-37.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$8.90 PGK 38.67

81.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$5.17 PGK 22.45

-43.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$9.10 PGK 39.54

3.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$4.12 PGK 17.92

-34.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$3.07 PGK 13.35

-64.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$5.85 PGK 25.44

-72.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$6.15 PGK 26.74

-76.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$3.29 PGK 14.30

-61.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$2.60 PGK 11.29

-59.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$2.09 PGK 9.09

-65.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$1.25 PGK 5.43

-57.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.17 PGK 26.81

-31.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$11.58 PGK 50.3

57.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.75 PGK 11.97

-40.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.44 PGK 14.97

-15.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.43 PGK 1.89

104.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$22.32 PGK 97.0

140.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$5.70 PGK 24.75

-79.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$2.27 PGK 9.88

-74.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$15.46 PGK 67.2

-84.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.99 PGK 4.32

46.46%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$21.5K PGK 93.4K

-2.25%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$17.9K PGK 77.6K

48.02%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$121 PGK 525

-47.31%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$23.52 PGK 102

-45.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$94.5 PGK 410

-78.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$61.0 PGK 265

-36.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$22.17 PGK 96.3

-82.32%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$9.21 PGK 40.02

-28.56%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$855 PGK 3,714

-8.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$6,169 PGK 26.8K

137.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$32.67 PGK 142

68.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$32.53 PGK 141

-23.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$137 PGK 595

-31.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$165 PGK 716

-55.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$1,633 PGK 7,096

-69.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$556 PGK 2,414

-48.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$2,740 PGK 11.9K

-67.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$1,155 PGK 5,018

-54.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$2,043 PGK 8,879

-3.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$3,781 PGK 16.4K

-61.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$429 PGK 1,863

40.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.17

-54.23%

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 Moresby: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $1,633 in Port Moresby. 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 40% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $46.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $310 – 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 Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby costs about 63% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $2,281 in Port Moresby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $855 in Port Moresby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Port Moresby, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Port Moresby at $1,520. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Moresby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,520 in Port Moresby. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Moresby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.