Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Moresby and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Moresby and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,689 per month in Port Moresby vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,472 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,255 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 95% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Moresby sits 26% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 PGK 42.93

$1.94 ฿63.5

407.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.81 PGK 209

$18.64 ฿609

156.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 PGK 25.92

$7.82 ฿255

-24.04%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PGK 10.01

$1.95 ฿63.8

17.44%

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

$0.75 PGK 3.29

$0.85 ฿27.77

-11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 PGK 3.63

$0.35 ฿11.58

137.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 PGK 10.35

$2.13 ฿69.6

11.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 PGK 18.10

$3.73 ฿122

11.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 PGK 8.72

$1.71 ฿56.0

16.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 PGK 6.80

$1.63 ฿53.2

-4.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 PGK 6.48

$1.14 ฿37.15

30.70%

Eggs

$3.89 PGK 16.95

$1.93 ฿63.1

101.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 PGK 19.88

$16.21 ฿530

-71.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 PGK 27.97

$3.12 ฿102

105.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 PGK 40.72

$10.90 ฿356

-14.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 PGK 17.34

$2.75 ฿90.0

44.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.89 PGK 12.62

$1.21 ฿39.52

138.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.58 PGK 24.34

$1.62 ฿53.0

244.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.66 PGK 24.67

$1.59 ฿51.8

255.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 PGK 14.81

$1.40 ฿45.70

142.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 PGK 11.70

$1.17 ฿38.17

129.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.96 PGK 12.89

$0.66 ฿21.60

348.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PGK 5.74

$0.53 ฿17.22

149.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.67 PGK 29.09

$4.69 ฿153

42.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 PGK 51.8

$18.66 ฿609

-36.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 PGK 12.58

$1.80 ฿58.8

60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PGK 16.65

$3.23 ฿106

18.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.04

$0.90 ฿29.26

-47.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.77 PGK 104

$19.21 ฿628

23.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 PGK 25.52

$1.41 ฿45.91

314.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 PGK 10.49

$1.29 ฿42.12

86.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.49 PGK 71.9

$7.84 ฿256

110.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PGK 4.99

$1.27 ฿41.58

-10.24%

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

$22.9K PGK 99.9K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

7.68%

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

$24.6K PGK 107.3K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

10.75%

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

$105 PGK 458

$69.1 ฿2,256

51.90%

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

$46.75 PGK 204

$14.08 ฿460

232.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$382 PGK 1,667

$18.00 ฿588

2023.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 PGK 293

$41.06 ฿1,341

63.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.62 PGK 89.9

$6.96 ฿227

196.26%

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 PGK 42.44

$5.92 ฿193

64.36%

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

$639 PGK 2,787

$299 ฿9,766

113.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,095 PGK 17.9K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-72.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.07 PGK 136

$54.7 ฿1,787

-43.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.74 PGK 160

$26.77 ฿874

37.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 PGK 336

$85.0 ฿2,776

-9.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 PGK 430

$70.6 ฿2,306

39.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,151 PGK 9,380

$428 ฿14.0K

402.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 PGK 2,096

$237 ฿7,752

102.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,423 PGK 14.9K

$801 ฿26.2K

327.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$826 PGK 3,603

$515 ฿16.8K

60.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,127 PGK 9,275

$1,975 ฿64.5K

7.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,892 PGK 17.0K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

163.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$446 PGK 1,945

$617 ฿20.2K

-27.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

166.60%

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

Last update for Port Moresby: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,151 in Port Moresby 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.

Salaries run about 38% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Port Moresby versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 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 Moresby vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby costs about 95% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,533 per month in Port Moresby and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. 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 $639 per month in Port Moresby and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Port Moresby, 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 $866, than in Port Moresby at $1,689. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Moresby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,689 in Port Moresby. 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, Port Moresby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.