Cost of Living Comparison Between Port-au-Prince and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Port-au-Prince and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,035 per month in Port-au-Prince vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,233 per month in Port-au-Prince vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,430 per month in Port-au-Prince vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Port-au-Prince costs about 135% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port-au-Prince sits 52% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.07 HTG 1,574
$1.94 ฿63.5
522.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.6 HTG 11.4K
$18.64 ฿609
369.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.53 HTG 1,503
$7.82 ฿255
47.44%
Cappuccino
$1.68 HTG 218
$1.95 ฿63.8
-13.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 HTG 264
$0.85 ฿27.77
138.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 HTG 192
$0.35 ฿11.58
320.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 HTG 635
$2.13 ฿69.6
128.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 HTG 917
$3.73 ฿122
88.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 HTG 194
$1.71 ฿56.0
-12.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 HTG 321
$1.63 ฿53.2
50.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.95 HTG 384
$1.14 ฿37.15
158.77%
Eggs
$2.81 HTG 367
$1.93 ฿63.1
45.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.04 HTG 1,309
$16.21 ฿530
-38.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.30 HTG 1,995
$3.12 ฿102
390.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 HTG 1,560
$10.90 ฿356
9.82%
Apples (1kg)
$5.09 HTG 664
$2.75 ฿90.0
85.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 HTG 161
$1.21 ฿39.52
1.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 HTG 133
$1.62 ฿53.0
-37.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.97 HTG 127
$1.59 ฿51.8
-38.99%
Potato (1kg)
$4.86 HTG 634
$1.40 ฿45.70
247.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 HTG 361
$1.17 ฿38.17
136.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 HTG 127
$0.66 ฿21.60
46.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 HTG 146
$0.53 ฿17.22
111.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 HTG 254
$4.69 ฿153
-58.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.98 HTG 1,953
$18.66 ฿609
-19.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 HTG 223
$1.80 ฿58.8
-5.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 HTG 256
$3.23 ฿106
-39.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 HTG 24.49
$0.90 ฿29.26
-78.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.32 HTG 2,649
$19.21 ฿628
5.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 HTG 48.09
$1.41 ฿45.91
-73.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 HTG 50.2
$1.29 ฿42.12
-70.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.08 HTG 2,619
$7.84 ฿256
156.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 HTG 145
$1.27 ฿41.58
-12.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K HTG 4.5M
$21.3K ฿694.9K
62.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.6K HTG 5.9M
$22.2K ฿725.4K
105.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.0 HTG 12.9K
$69.1 ฿2,256
43.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.2 HTG 6,538
$14.08 ฿460
256.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$165 HTG 21.5K
$18.00 ฿588
817.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.4 HTG 9,045
$41.06 ฿1,341
68.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.87 HTG 2,591
$6.96 ฿227
185.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.80 HTG 1,278
$5.92 ฿193
65.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$98.8 HTG 12.9K
$299 ฿9,766
-66.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,914 HTG 901.4K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-53.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.8 HTG 10.4K
$54.7 ฿1,787
45.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.2 HTG 9,668
$26.77 ฿874
176.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 HTG 15.9K
$85.0 ฿2,776
43.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149 HTG 19.5K
$70.6 ฿2,306
111.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$893 HTG 116.5K
$428 ฿14.0K
108.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$879 HTG 114.6K
$237 ฿7,752
270.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 HTG 277.2K
$801 ฿26.2K
165.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 HTG 241.0K
$515 ฿16.8K
258.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,731 HTG 225.7K
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-12.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,498 HTG 195.3K
$1,475 ฿48.2K
1.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 ฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
5
140.00%

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

Last update for Port-au-Prince: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $893 in Port-au-Prince versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Port-au-Prince versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $246 – 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
Port-au-Prince vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Port-au-Prince or Chiang Mai?
Port-au-Prince costs about 135% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Port-au-Prince vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,053 per month in Port-au-Prince and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Port-au-Prince or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Port-au-Prince and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $98.8 per month in Port-au-Prince and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Port-au-Prince or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Port-au-Prince, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Port-au-Prince or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Port-au-Prince at $2,035. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port-au-Prince it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Port-au-Prince or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,035 in Port-au-Prince. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Port-au-Prince compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Port-au-Prince or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port-au-Prince makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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