😐A single person spends $2,038 per month in Port-au-Prince vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,293 per month in Port-au-Prince vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,547 per month in Port-au-Prince vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Port-au-Prince costs about 137% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Port-au-Prince sits 53% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.89HTG 1,550
$1.96฿65.8
506.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.5HTG 11.7K
$18.35฿617
387.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.50HTG 1,500
$7.48฿252
53.74%
Cappuccino
$1.68HTG 219
$2.02฿67.8
-16.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06HTG 268
$0.85฿28.50
142.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49HTG 194
$0.36฿11.96
313.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.07HTG 661
$2.14฿71.8
136.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05HTG 919
$3.59฿121
96.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49HTG 194
$1.65฿55.5
-9.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52HTG 329
$1.57฿52.7
60.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94HTG 383
$1.19฿40.02
147.06%
Eggs
$2.83HTG 369
$1.94฿65.1
45.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.05HTG 1,310
$16.19฿544
-37.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.39HTG 2,006
$2.99฿101
414.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83HTG 1,543
$10.94฿368
8.14%
Apples(1kg)
$4.90HTG 639
$2.71฿91.2
80.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18HTG 154
$1.17฿39.25
0.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03HTG 134
$1.69฿56.7
-39.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03HTG 134
$1.60฿54.0
-35.63%
Potato(1kg)
$4.96HTG 646
$1.38฿46.54
259.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.73HTG 357
$1.20฿40.45
127.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03HTG 134
$0.67฿22.50
53.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07HTG 140
$0.56฿18.73
91.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03HTG 265
$4.64฿156
-56.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.38HTG 2,006
$17.62฿593
-12.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79HTG 233
$1.86฿62.5
-3.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92HTG 251
$3.30฿111
-41.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19HTG 25.30
$0.88฿29.68
-78.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.94HTG 2,600
$19.34฿650
3.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.36HTG 47.45
$1.36฿45.90
-73.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39HTG 50.2
$1.34฿44.98
-70.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.77HTG 2,577
$8.21฿276
140.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10HTG 144
$1.22฿41.18
-9.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KHTG 4.6M
$21.4K฿718.1K
65.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5KHTG 5.8M
$22.5K฿757.7K
97.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101HTG 13.2K
$70.7฿2,376
43.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.3HTG 6,561
$14.04฿472
258.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$164HTG 21.4K
$17.49฿588
838.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.9HTG 9,116
$42.15฿1,417
65.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.68HTG 2,566
$6.88฿231
186.05%
Cinema Ticket
$10.15HTG 1,323
$5.92฿199
71.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$99.6HTG 13.0K
$309฿10.4K
-67.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,840HTG 891.8K
$14.9K฿500.4K
-54.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.5HTG 10.6K
$55.8฿1,875
46.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.0HTG 9,652
$26.11฿878
183.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121HTG 15.8K
$83.0฿2,792
46.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152HTG 19.9K
$70.5฿2,369
116.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$921HTG 120.1K
$432฿14.5K
113.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$906HTG 118.1K
$239฿8,035
279.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,113HTG 275.5K
$822฿27.7K
157.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,809HTG 235.9K
$512฿17.2K
253.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,688HTG 220.1K
$1,915฿64.4K
-11.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,519HTG 198.1K
$1,467฿49.3K
3.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port-au-Prince
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $921 in Port-au-Prince versus $432 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 $89.0 in Port-au-Prince versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $243 – 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 137% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,057 per month in Port-au-Prince and $1,292 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $99.6 per month in Port-au-Prince and $309 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 35% 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Port-au-Prince at $2,038. 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 $861 versus $2,038 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 to 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.
Port-au-Prince vs other spots: cost of living compared