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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,983 in Port Vila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,058 in Port Vila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,134 in Port Vila, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Port Vila is 123% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$11.14 VUV 1,281

-82.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$64.5 VUV 7,420

-71.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$9.83 VUV 1,130

-20.45%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$5.25 VUV 603

-62.86%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.15 VUV 247

-60.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.74 VUV 200

-79.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$4.42 VUV 508

-51.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.23 VUV 486

-11.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.23 VUV 257

-23.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.50 VUV 288

-34.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$3.93 VUV 452

-70.99%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$5.18 VUV 596

-62.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$20.04 VUV 2,304

-19.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$18.57 VUV 2,136

-83.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$18.19 VUV 2,092

-40.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$4.66 VUV 536

-40.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.05 VUV 236

-40.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$6.03 VUV 694

-73.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.47 VUV 284

-35.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$4.40 VUV 506

-68.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$2.18 VUV 251

-46.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.57 VUV 296

-74.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.06 VUV 121

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$9.46 VUV 1,088

-50.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$12.44 VUV 1,431

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.95 VUV 340

-38.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.94 VUV 338

9.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$1.72 VUV 198

-47.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$68.0 VUV 7,820

-71.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$2.14 VUV 246

-34.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.82 VUV 94.8

57.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.10 VUV 587

53.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.89 VUV 217

-32.80%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$23.1K VUV 2.7M

-7.89%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$38.6K VUV 4.4M

-42.39%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$531 VUV 61.1K

-86.99%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$25.37 VUV 2,918

-44.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$227 VUV 26.2K

-92.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.92 VUV 1,947

-58.87%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$12.71 VUV 1,462

-53.42%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$624 VUV 71.8K

-52.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$6,796 VUV 781.6K

120.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$45.92 VUV 5,282

19.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$68.2 VUV 7,844

-60.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$1,882 VUV 216.4K

-77.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$1,392 VUV 160.1K

-82.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$3,353 VUV 385.6K

-76.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$2,083 VUV 239.6K

-75.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$6,040 VUV 694.8K

-67.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,291 VUV 263.5K

-35.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$696 VUV 80.1K

-11.33%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Port Vila: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,882 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 13% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $65.0 in Port Vila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $449 – 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 244% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,474 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $624 in Port Vila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 82% 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 $866, than in Port Vila at $2,983. 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 $866 versus $2,983 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.