Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Velho and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Velho and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $829 per month in Porto Velho vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,364 per month in Porto Velho vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,898 per month in Porto Velho vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Porto Velho is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Porto Velho and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Porto Velho 40% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porto Velho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.84 R$29.94
$2.10 ฿69.3
178.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.28 R$201
$19.84 ฿656
97.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.39 R$32.78
$5.79 ฿191
10.36%
Cappuccino
$1.78 R$9.11
$1.83 ฿60.4
-2.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 R$8.13
$0.78 ฿25.61
103.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 R$2.56
$0.31 ฿10.37
61.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.89 R$9.69
$2.34 ฿77.2
-19.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 R$11.19
$3.70 ฿122
-41.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porto Velho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 R$5.36
$2.03 ฿67.1
-48.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 R$8.58
$1.60 ฿52.7
4.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.49
$1.42 ฿46.75
-10.56%
Eggs
$2.07 R$10.62
$2.18 ฿71.9
-5.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.96 R$45.93
$15.91 ฿526
-43.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 R$21.47
$3.07 ฿102
36.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.35 R$42.78
$9.87 ฿326
-15.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 R$11.21
$2.63 ฿86.8
-16.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.59
$1.10 ฿36.19
17.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 R$5.78
$1.63 ฿53.8
-30.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 R$8.05
$1.53 ฿50.6
2.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.94
$1.24 ฿41.13
-6.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 R$5.53
$1.13 ฿37.37
-4.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 R$4.16
$0.74 ฿24.38
9.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 R$4.07
$0.50 ฿16.48
58.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39 R$12.24
$4.28 ฿141
-44.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.66 R$39.26
$17.97 ฿594
-57.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 R$6.21
$1.70 ฿56.1
-28.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 R$10.83
$2.90 ฿95.7
-27.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Porto Velho
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 R$4.70
$0.94 ฿31.13
-2.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.24 R$217
$55.3 ฿1,827
-23.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 R$6.26
$1.23 ฿40.76
-0.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 R$4.11
$0.53 ฿17.66
50.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 R$40.47
$2.40 ฿79.3
228.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 R$5.94
$1.44 ฿47.55
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K R$116.2K
$21.2K ฿700.2K
6.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K R$159.9K
$27.3K ฿902.1K
14.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Velho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.6 R$367
$64.9 ฿2,145
10.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.24 R$62.8
$13.35 ฿441
-8.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.25 R$104
$20.83 ฿688
-2.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porto Velho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.11 R$129
$40.42 ฿1,336
-37.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70 R$137
$3.95 ฿131
575.95%
Cinema Ticket
$7.00 R$35.90
$6.71 ฿222
4.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porto Velho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$289 R$1,481
$787 ฿26.0K
-63.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,521 R$38.6K
$15.1K ฿499.6K
-50.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porto Velho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 R$278
$56.2 ฿1,858
-3.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.23 R$252
$24.95 ฿824
97.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 R$471
$92.7 ฿3,063
-0.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 R$362
$75.1 ฿2,482
-6.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porto Velho
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$339 R$1,736
$484 ฿16.0K
-30.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 R$1,204
$287 ฿9,491
-18.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$646 R$3,309
$910 ฿30.1K
-29.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$458 R$2,345
$531 ฿17.5K
-13.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,611 R$8,258
$1,980 ฿65.4K
-18.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,125 R$5,769
$1,451 ฿47.9K
-22.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porto Velho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$408 R$2,094
$605 ฿20.0K
-32.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.12
5.57
99.64%

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

Last update for Porto Velho: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Porto Velho versus $484 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 48% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $39.00 in Porto Velho versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Porto Velho vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Porto Velho 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
Porto Velho vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Porto Velho or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Porto Velho, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Porto Velho and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,244 per month in Porto Velho and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Porto Velho or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Porto Velho, 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 Porto Velho and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $289 per month in Porto Velho and $787 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 Porto Velho or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 29% more in Chiang Mai, 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 Porto Velho or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Porto Velho, where all-in costs run around $829, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Porto Velho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Porto Velho or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Porto Velho costs $829 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Porto Velho 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 Porto Velho or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Porto Velho. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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