😐A single person spends $1,059 per month in Port Mathurin vs $905 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,699 per month in Port Mathurin vs $1,374 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,338 per month in Port Mathurin vs $1,843 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Port Mathurin costs about 17% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Port Mathurin and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Port Mathurin22% lower, Chiang Mai33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Mathurin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.66MUR 265
$2.08฿69.6
172.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.26MUR 1,556
$19.52฿652
70.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.11MUR 379
$5.94฿198
36.53%
Cappuccino
$2.86MUR 134
$1.70฿56.9
68.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02MUR 47.86
$0.72฿24.02
41.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63MUR 29.69
$0.32฿10.83
96.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59MUR 168
$2.44฿81.6
47.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39MUR 205
$3.66฿122
19.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Mathurin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41MUR 65.9
$1.86฿62.0
-24.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72MUR 33.46
$1.56฿52.1
-53.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11MUR 52.1
$1.33฿44.39
-16.54%
Eggs
$2.45MUR 115
$2.16฿72.2
13.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.13MUR 287
$15.58฿520
-60.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.82MUR 272
$2.85฿95.1
104.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.91MUR 463
$10.39฿347
-4.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42MUR 113
$2.44฿81.3
-0.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30MUR 108
$1.09฿36.37
111.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52MUR 71.0
$1.47฿49.09
3.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.15MUR 147
$1.49฿49.79
111.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01MUR 47.22
$1.20฿40.03
-15.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.85MUR 39.70
$1.09฿36.25
-22.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72MUR 33.71
$0.69฿22.97
4.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98MUR 45.77
$0.51฿17.15
92.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11MUR 333
$4.37฿146
62.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.71MUR 361
$16.63฿556
-53.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56MUR 73.1
$1.65฿55.0
-5.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05MUR 95.9
$2.74฿91.6
-25.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Mathurin
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.94฿31.50
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$54.7฿1,828
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.45MUR 208
$1.23฿40.97
261.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.07MUR 144
$0.57฿19.15
438.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.96MUR 934
$2.36฿78.8
745.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MUR 69.7
$1.45฿48.39
2.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KMUR 1.6M
$20.8K฿696.1K
67.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KMUR 1.6M
$26.3K฿877.4K
26.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Mathurin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.83MUR 2,144
$62.3฿2,081
-26.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41MUR 534
$13.01฿435
-12.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.55MUR 1,336
$19.45฿650
46.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Mathurin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.05MUR 1,874
$38.68฿1,292
3.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.86฿129
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.52MUR 258
$6.62฿221
-16.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Mathurin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$123MUR 5,769
$782฿26.1K
-84.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,138MUR 333.9K
$14.8K฿494.4K
-51.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Mathurin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3MUR 2,819
$54.1฿1,806
11.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.3MUR 3,194
$25.39฿848
168.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109MUR 5,097
$90.9฿3,038
19.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.6MUR 3,956
$74.0฿2,470
14.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Mathurin
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$496MUR 23.2K
$476฿15.9K
4.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$356MUR 16.7K
$275฿9,178
29.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005MUR 47.0K
$881฿29.4K
14.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$744MUR 34.8K
$528฿17.6K
40.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,989฿66.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,476฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Mathurin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$598฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
5.57
13.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Mathurin: August 4, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $496 in Port Mathurin versus $476 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 $33.00 in Port Mathurin versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Port Mathurin vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Port Mathurin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Mathurin vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Port Mathurin or Chiang Mai?
Port Mathurin costs about 17% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Mathurin and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,588 per month in Port Mathurin and $1,358 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Port Mathurin 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 dining costs compare in Port Mathurin and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Port Mathurin and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Port Mathurin or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Port Mathurin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Port Mathurin or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $905, than in Port Mathurin at $1,059. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Mathurin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Port Mathurin or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $905 versus $1,059 in Port Mathurin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Port Mathurin 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 Mathurin 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 Mathurin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Port Mathurin vs other spots: cost of living compared