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 $1,702 per month in Port Moresby vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,442 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,181 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 98% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Moresby sits 27% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.40 PGK 41.38

$1.96 ฿65.7

379.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.47 PGK 213

$18.35 ฿616

164.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 PGK 25.84

$7.48 ฿251

-21.52%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PGK 10.09

$2.02 ฿67.7

13.37%

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

$0.80 PGK 3.53

$0.85 ฿28.45

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 PGK 3.45

$0.36 ฿11.94

116.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 PGK 10.76

$2.14 ฿71.7

14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 PGK 18.15

$3.59 ฿121

15.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 PGK 8.51

$1.65 ฿55.4

16.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 PGK 7.02

$1.57 ฿52.6

1.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 PGK 6.55

$1.19 ฿39.95

25.21%

Eggs

$3.75 PGK 16.49

$1.94 ฿65.0

93.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.53 PGK 19.91

$16.19 ฿544

-72.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 PGK 27.35

$2.99 ฿100

108.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 PGK 42.96

$10.94 ฿367

-10.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 PGK 17.90

$2.71 ฿91.0

50.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 PGK 12.39

$1.17 ฿39.18

141.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 PGK 25.08

$1.69 ฿56.6

237.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.41 PGK 23.81

$1.60 ฿53.9

238.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 PGK 14.29

$1.38 ฿46.45

135.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 PGK 12.21

$1.20 ฿40.38

131.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 PGK 13.55

$0.67 ฿22.46

359.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PGK 5.58

$0.56 ฿18.70

126.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.99 PGK 30.74

$4.64 ฿156

50.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.86 PGK 52.2

$17.62 ฿591

-32.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 PGK 12.39

$1.86 ฿62.4

51.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PGK 16.84

$3.30 ฿111

16.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.20

$0.88 ฿29.63

-43.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.88 PGK 105

$19.34 ฿649

23.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 PGK 26.85

$1.36 ฿45.82

348.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 PGK 10.73

$1.34 ฿44.90

82.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 PGK 75.2

$8.21 ฿276

108.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PGK 5.00

$1.22 ฿41.11

-6.56%

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

$22.3K PGK 98.2K

$21.4K ฿716.8K

4.52%

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

$24.9K PGK 109.4K

$22.5K ฿756.3K

10.35%

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

$108 PGK 475

$70.7 ฿2,372

52.62%

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

$47.63 PGK 210

$14.04 ฿471

239.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$377 PGK 1,657

$17.49 ฿587

2052.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.5 PGK 293

$42.15 ฿1,415

57.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.71 PGK 91.1

$6.88 ฿231

201.02%

Cinema Ticket

$9.84 PGK 43.29

$5.92 ฿199

66.22%

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

$633 PGK 2,786

$309 ฿10.4K

105.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,013 PGK 17.7K

$14.9K ฿499.5K

-73.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.33 PGK 138

$55.8 ฿1,872

-43.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.00 PGK 163

$26.11 ฿877

41.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 PGK 335

$83.0 ฿2,787

-8.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.2 PGK 428

$70.5 ฿2,365

37.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 PGK 9,694

$432 ฿14.5K

409.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 PGK 2,102

$239 ฿8,020

99.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,447 PGK 15.2K

$822 ฿27.6K

319.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$840 PGK 3,694

$512 ฿17.2K

63.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 PGK 9,188

$1,915 ฿64.3K

9.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,904 PGK 17.2K

$1,467 ฿49.3K

166.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$439 PGK 1,932

$579 ฿19.4K

-24.22%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,203 in Port Moresby 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.

Salaries run about 32% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $306 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 Moresby vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby costs about 98% 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 $2,553 per month in Port Moresby and $1,292 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 $633 per month in Port Moresby and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $861, than in Port Moresby at $1,702. 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 $861 versus $1,702 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.