😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $636 in Port Sudan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,165 in Port Sudan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,694 in Port Sudan, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Port Sudan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Port Sudan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Port Sudan52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Port Sudan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.9
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.52
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.97
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.9
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Port Sudan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$1.28SDG 765
28.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$0.85SDG 510
84.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.05
$0.79SDG 470
50.63%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$2.95SDG 1,764
-34.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿545
$6.80SDG 4,069
138.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$16.44SDG 9,838
-81.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$14.20SDG 8,501
-22.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$4.26SDG 2,549
-36.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.27
$2.18SDG 1,302
-46.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.8
$1.64SDG 980
3.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$3.40SDG 2,036
-52.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.56
$3.28SDG 1,964
-57.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.47
$1.62SDG 971
-25.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.51
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.74
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Port Sudan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.70
$0.31SDG 184
183.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿651
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.92
$1.95SDG 1,170
-30.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿45.00
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.20
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿758.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Port Sudan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,378
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$11.52SDG 6,896
21.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿589
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Port Sudan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,418
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Port Sudan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$28.77SDG 17.2K
972.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.7K
$423SDG 253.5K
3413.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Port Sudan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,876
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿879
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,793
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,371
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Port Sudan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$736SDG 440.8K
-41.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,040
$363SDG 217.5K
-34.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$1,524SDG 912.1K
-46.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$981SDG 587.4K
-47.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$2,027SDG 1.2M
-5.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.4K
$1,189SDG 711.5K
23.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Port Sudan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
$213SDG 127.5K
171.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
0
-
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 Sudan: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $736 in Port Sudan. 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 172% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
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 Sudan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Port Sudan?
Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Port Sudan, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Port Sudan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $954 in Port Sudan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Port Sudan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Sudan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Port Sudan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $636 in Port Sudan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Port Sudan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Port Sudan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $636 in Port Sudan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Port Sudan?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Sudan costs $636 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Port Sudan?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Port Sudan?
If budget matters most, go with Port Sudan. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared