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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,702 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,442 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,181 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 49% cheaper than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$9.40 PGK 41.38

-79.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$48.47 PGK 213

-62.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$5.87 PGK 25.84

27.43%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$2.29 PGK 10.09

-11.79%

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

$0.80 PGK 3.53

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.78 PGK 3.45

-53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$2.45 PGK 10.76

-12.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.13 PGK 18.15

-13.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$1.93 PGK 8.51

-14.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$1.60 PGK 7.02

-1.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$1.49 PGK 6.55

-20.13%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$3.75 PGK 16.49

-48.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$4.53 PGK 19.91

257.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$6.22 PGK 27.35

-51.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$9.76 PGK 42.96

12.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$4.07 PGK 17.90

-33.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-58.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$5.70 PGK 25.08

-70.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$5.41 PGK 23.81

-70.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$3.25 PGK 14.29

-57.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$2.78 PGK 12.21

-56.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$3.08 PGK 13.55

-78.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$1.27 PGK 5.58

-55.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$6.99 PGK 30.74

-33.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

$11.86 PGK 52.2

48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-34.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.83 PGK 16.84

-13.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.50 PGK 2.20

76.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$23.88 PGK 105

-19.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$6.10 PGK 26.85

-77.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$2.44 PGK 10.73

-45.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$17.09 PGK 75.2

-51.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$1.14 PGK 5.00

7.02%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$22.3K PGK 98.2K

-4.32%

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$24.9K PGK 109.4K

-9.38%

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

$108 PGK 475

-34.48%

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

$14.04 ฿471

$47.63 PGK 210

-70.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$377 PGK 1,657

-95.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$66.5 PGK 293

-36.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$20.71 PGK 91.1

-66.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$9.84 PGK 43.29

-39.84%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$633 PGK 2,786

-51.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$4,013 PGK 17.7K

270.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$31.33 PGK 138

77.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$37.00 PGK 163

-29.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$76.2 PGK 335

8.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$97.2 PGK 428

-27.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$2,203 PGK 9,694

-80.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$478 PGK 2,102

-49.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$3,447 PGK 15.2K

-76.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$840 PGK 3,694

-39.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$2,088 PGK 9,188

-8.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$3,904 PGK 17.2K

-62.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$439 PGK 1,932

31.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

-62.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $2,203 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 32% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $48.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $306 – 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 98% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,553 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $633 in Port Moresby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $861, than in Port Moresby at $1,702. 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 $861 versus $1,702 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.