Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Vanuatu
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $3,281 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $28,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
Vanuatu Living Index157Cost of Living Index in VanuatuLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 60.6% cheaper than Vanuatu without rent, and 72.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 56.5% cheaper than Vanuatu without rent, and 65.6% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Vanuatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$12.78 VUV 1,497
-83.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$57.2 VUV 6,697
-66.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$14.57 VUV 1,706
-62.46%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$4.03 VUV 471
-58.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$2.25 VUV 264
-70.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$2.38 VUV 278
-85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$4.93 VUV 578
-50.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$7.12 VUV 833
-47.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Vanuatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$3.03 VUV 355
-32.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$2.52 VUV 295
-42.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$3.80 VUV 445
-64.47%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$5.87 VUV 687
-61.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$15.92 VUV 1,863
2.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$16.16 VUV 1,892
-83.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$13.23 VUV 1,549
-30.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$6.80 VUV 797
-64.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$2.14 VUV 250
-51.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$4.11 VUV 481
-61.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$9.62 VUV 1,126
-85.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$8.75 VUV 1,025
-85.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$4.33 VUV 507
-74.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$2.47 VUV 289
-71.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$1.19 VUV 139
-57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$10.06 VUV 1,178
-58.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$12.80 VUV 1,499
38.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$2.92 VUV 342
-44.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$3.00 VUV 352
-4.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Vanuatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$1.25 VUV 146
-31.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$66.8 VUV 7,819
-20.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$2.57 VUV 301
-52.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$0.83 VUV 96.7
-32.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$5.17 VUV 606
-55.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.75 VUV 205
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$23.3K VUV 2.7M
-10.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$37.8K VUV 4.4M
-29.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Vanuatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$624 VUV 73.0K
-90.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$22.67 VUV 2,654
-44.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$367 VUV 42.9K
-94.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Vanuatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$68.9 VUV 8,063
-44.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$16.76 VUV 1,962
-77.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
-
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Vanuatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$634 VUV 74.2K
22.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$6,742 VUV 789.4K
114.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Vanuatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$40.55 VUV 4,747
35.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$66.9 VUV 7,834
-62.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$82.9 VUV 9,706
9.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$99.3 VUV 11.6K
-26.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Vanuatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$1,583 VUV 185.4K
-71.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$1,218 VUV 142.6K
-75.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$3,463 VUV 405.5K
-73.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$1,840 VUV 215.4K
-70.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$6,084 VUV 712.3K
-68.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$2,144 VUV 251.0K
-32.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Vanuatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$342 VUV 40.1K
73.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.18
-9.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for Vanuatu: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
Vanuatu $1.2K 37.6% 315% $924
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
Vanuatu $479 14.8% 103% $243
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
Vanuatu $130 4% 18.8% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
Vanuatu $1K 31.3% 977% $919
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
Vanuatu $252 7.8% 226% $174
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
Vanuatu $78 2.4% 29.5% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
Vanuatu $69 * 2.1% 34.7% $18
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
Vanuatu $1.8K 34.2% 233% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
Vanuatu $1.1K 20.8% 112% $592
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
Vanuatu $290 5.4% 18.8% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
Vanuatu $1K 19.3% 872% $929
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
Vanuatu $781 14.5% 221% $538
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
Vanuatu $159 3% 29.7% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
Vanuatu $154 * 2.9% 45.7% $48
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇻🇺 Vanuatu
Weather
Population
127,240
300,019
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai Vanuatu 8,590 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- Vanuatu
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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