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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,980 in Port Vila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,025 in Port Vila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,070 in Port Vila, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 71% cheaper than Port Vila, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Port Vila is 123% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$11.23 VUV 1,310

-82.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$64.2 VUV 7,487

-71.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$9.37 VUV 1,093

-20.17%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$5.06 VUV 591

-60.08%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$2.18 VUV 254

-61.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.69 VUV 197

-78.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$4.42 VUV 516

-51.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.19 VUV 489

-14.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.22 VUV 259

-25.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.48 VUV 289

-36.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$3.85 VUV 449

-69.09%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$5.19 VUV 605

-62.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$20.31 VUV 2,368

-20.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$18.40 VUV 2,146

-83.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$18.41 VUV 2,147

-40.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$4.82 VUV 562

-43.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.09 VUV 244

-44.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$6.08 VUV 709

-72.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.55 VUV 297

-37.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$4.24 VUV 495

-67.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.08 VUV 243

-42.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$2.59 VUV 302

-74.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.05 VUV 123

-46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$8.99 VUV 1,049

-48.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$12.67 VUV 1,478

39.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.99 VUV 349

-37.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.02 VUV 352

9.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$1.69 VUV 198

-47.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$66.6 VUV 7,773

-70.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.15 VUV 251

-36.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.82 VUV 96.0

63.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.04 VUV 588

62.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.85 VUV 216

-34.05%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$23.5K VUV 2.7M

-9.07%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$38.0K VUV 4.4M

-40.77%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$542 VUV 63.2K

-86.96%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$24.94 VUV 2,909

-43.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$226 VUV 26.4K

-92.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$16.52 VUV 1,926

-58.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$12.55 VUV 1,464

-52.83%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$620 VUV 72.3K

-50.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$6,934 VUV 808.8K

114.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$46.05 VUV 5,371

21.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$67.3 VUV 7,854

-61.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$1,894 VUV 220.9K

-77.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$1,412 VUV 164.7K

-83.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$3,379 VUV 394.2K

-75.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$2,063 VUV 240.6K

-75.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$6,092 VUV 710.6K

-68.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$2,199 VUV 256.5K

-33.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$689 VUV 80.4K

-15.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-28.57%

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 Vila: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $1,894 in Port Vila. 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 19% higher in Port Vila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $64.0 in Port Vila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $451 – 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 Vila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Vila costs about 246% 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 $4,470 in Port Vila. 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 $620 in Port Vila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 85% more in Port Vila, 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 Vila at $2,980. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Vila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $2,980 in Port Vila. 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 Vila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.