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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $636 in Port Sudan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,160 in Port Sudan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,683 in Port Sudan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 36% more than Port Sudan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Port Sudan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Port Sudan 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.32 SDG 791

29.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.87 SDG 518

87.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.72 SDG 432

58.33%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.05 SDG 1,826

-36.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.80 SDG 4,071

138.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$16.15 SDG 9,666

-80.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$14.11 SDG 8,444

-22.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$4.39 SDG 2,626

-37.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.19 SDG 1,312

-44.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.55 SDG 930

4.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.38 SDG 2,024

-52.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$3.24 SDG 1,939

-56.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.65 SDG 985

-29.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.31 SDG 183

190.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.04 SDG 1,222

-30.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

$11.44 SDG 6,850

23.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

$28.98 SDG 17.3K

931.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$420 SDG 251.1K

3463.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$763 SDG 456.9K

-43.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$365 SDG 218.7K

-35.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,492 SDG 893.0K

-46.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,012 SDG 605.7K

-49.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,968 SDG 1.2M

0.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,181 SDG 707.0K

24.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$207 SDG 123.8K

198.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Port Sudan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $763 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 199% 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

Chiang Mai costs about 36% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $955 in Port Sudan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $636 in Port Sudan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Sudan, where all-in costs run around $636, than in Chiang Mai at $866. In Port Sudan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Sudan costs $636 versus $866 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 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.