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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,983 per month in Port Vila vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,058 per month in Port Vila vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,134 per month in Port Vila vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Port Vila costs about 244% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Vila sits 123% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.14 VUV 1,282

$1.94 ฿63.5

474.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.5 VUV 7,426

$18.64 ฿609

246.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 VUV 1,131

$7.82 ฿255

25.70%

Cappuccino

$5.25 VUV 604

$1.95 ฿63.8

169.23%

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

$2.15 VUV 247

$0.85 ฿27.77

152.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 VUV 200

$0.35 ฿11.58

397.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 VUV 508

$2.13 ฿69.6

107.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 VUV 486

$3.73 ฿122

13.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 VUV 257

$1.71 ฿56.0

30.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 VUV 288

$1.63 ฿53.2

53.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.93 VUV 452

$1.14 ฿37.15

244.74%

Eggs

$5.18 VUV 596

$1.93 ฿63.1

168.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.04 VUV 2,306

$16.21 ฿530

23.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.57 VUV 2,137

$3.12 ฿102

495.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.19 VUV 2,094

$10.90 ฿356

66.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 VUV 536

$2.75 ฿90.0

69.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 VUV 236

$1.21 ฿39.52

69.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.03 VUV 694

$1.62 ฿53.0

272.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 VUV 284

$1.59 ฿51.8

55.35%

Potato (1kg)

$4.40 VUV 506

$1.40 ฿45.70

214.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 VUV 251

$1.17 ฿38.17

86.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 VUV 296

$0.66 ฿21.60

289.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 VUV 122

$0.53 ฿17.22

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.46 VUV 1,089

$4.69 ฿153

101.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 VUV 1,432

$18.66 ฿609

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 VUV 340

$1.80 ฿58.8

63.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 VUV 338

$3.23 ฿106

-8.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 VUV 198

$0.90 ฿29.26

91.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.0 VUV 7,826

$19.21 ฿628

253.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 VUV 246

$1.41 ฿45.91

51.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 VUV 94.9

$1.29 ฿42.12

-36.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 VUV 587

$7.84 ฿256

-34.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 VUV 217

$1.27 ฿41.58

48.82%

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

$23.1K VUV 2.7M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

8.57%

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

$38.6K VUV 4.4M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

73.59%

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

$531 VUV 61.1K

$69.1 ฿2,256

668.65%

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

$25.37 VUV 2,921

$14.08 ฿460

80.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$227 VUV 26.2K

$18.00 ฿588

1163.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 VUV 1,948

$6.96 ฿227

143.10%

Cinema Ticket

$12.71 VUV 1,463

$5.92 ฿193

114.70%

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

$624 VUV 71.8K

$299 ฿9,766

108.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,796 VUV 782.2K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-54.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.92 VUV 5,286

$54.7 ฿1,787

-16.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.2 VUV 7,851

$26.77 ฿874

154.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 VUV 216.6K

$428 ฿14.0K

339.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,392 VUV 160.2K

$237 ฿7,752

486.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,353 VUV 385.9K

$801 ฿26.2K

318.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,083 VUV 239.8K

$515 ฿16.8K

304.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,040 VUV 695.3K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

205.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,291 VUV 263.7K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

55.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$696 VUV 80.2K

$617 ฿20.2K

12.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.00%

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

Last update for Port Vila: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,882 in Port Vila 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 13% higher in Port Vila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Port Vila versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 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 Vila vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Vila costs about 244% 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 $4,474 per month in Port Vila 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 $624 per month in Port Vila 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 82% more in Port Vila, 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 Vila at $2,983. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Vila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,983 in Port Vila. 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 Vila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.