Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Portmore Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Portmore

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,112 in Portmore, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,853 in Portmore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,594 in Portmore, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Portmore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Portmore are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Portmore 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.82 JMD 757

-59.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$62.9 JMD 9,885

-70.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.78 JMD 1,380

-9.79%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$4.23 JMD 665

-54.85%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.69 JMD 108

21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.50 JMD 78.8

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.85 JMD 291

19.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.23 JMD 350

70.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.05 JMD 479

-46.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$3.63 JMD 571

-55.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.99 JMD 155

19.19%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.53 JMD 554

-43.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$11.18 JMD 1,757

42.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.44 JMD 1,011

-53.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.50 JMD 1,178

43.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$5.99 JMD 941

-56.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$3.11 JMD 488

-60.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.95 JMD 464

-42.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$3.06 JMD 481

-48.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$2.01 JMD 315

-34.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.99 JMD 313

-41.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.59 JMD 250

-57.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.28 JMD 201

-56.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$8.71 JMD 1,368

-47.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$11.49 JMD 1,804

58.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.84 JMD 446

-35.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.26 JMD 354

42.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.60 JMD 252

-44.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$62.9 JMD 9,884

-69.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.91 JMD 143

48.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$3.25 JMD 510

-58.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$6.29 JMD 988

31.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.08 JMD 170

17.59%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

-50.48%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

-33.43%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$156 JMD 24.5K

-54.95%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$22.40 JMD 3,518

-38.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$51.8 JMD 8,129

-66.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$13.17 JMD 2,068

-56.11%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$224 JMD 35.2K

36.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,479 JMD 389.4K

497.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$25.93 JMD 4,073

109.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$25.32 JMD 3,977

3.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

21.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

-7.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$314 JMD 49.4K

34.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$215 JMD 33.8K

10.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$646 JMD 101.5K

27.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$598 JMD 93.8K

-13.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$7,724 JMD 1.2M

-73.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$5,745 JMD 902.3K

-73.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,267 JMD 199.0K

-49.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Portmore: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $314 in Portmore. 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 99% higher in Portmore, 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 $63.0 in Portmore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $322 – 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 Portmore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Portmore costs about 30% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,668 in Portmore. 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $224 in Portmore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Portmore, 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 $852, than in Portmore at $1,112. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Portmore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,112 in Portmore. 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, Portmore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.