Cost of Living Comparison Between Portsmouth and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Portsmouth and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,144 per month in Portsmouth vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,863 per month in Portsmouth vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,583 per month in Portsmouth vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Portsmouth costs about 32% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Portsmouth and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Portsmouth 15% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 EC$14.88

$1.94 ฿63.5

184.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.4 EC$147

$18.64 ฿609

191.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.76 EC$18.26

$7.82 ฿255

-13.55%

Cappuccino

$2.55 EC$6.89

$1.95 ฿63.8

30.77%

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

$2.21 EC$5.97

$0.85 ฿27.77

160.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 EC$5.12

$0.35 ฿11.58

442.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 EC$7.19

$2.13 ฿69.6

24.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 EC$10.07

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 EC$7.67

$1.71 ฿56.0

66.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.17 EC$5.86

$1.63 ฿53.2

33.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 EC$5.59

$1.14 ฿37.15

81.58%

Eggs

$6.56 EC$17.72

$1.93 ฿63.1

239.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.63 EC$7.10

$16.21 ฿530

-83.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 EC$14.69

$3.12 ฿102

74.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$7.58 EC$20.46

$2.75 ฿90.0

175.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 EC$6.92

$1.21 ฿39.52

111.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 EC$11.26

$1.62 ฿53.0

157.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 EC$11.12

$1.59 ฿51.8

159.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 EC$7.91

$1.40 ฿45.70

109.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 EC$7.55

$1.17 ฿38.17

139.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 EC$5.07

$0.66 ฿21.60

184.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 EC$5.12

$0.53 ฿17.22

258.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$11.12 EC$30.01

$18.66 ฿609

-40.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 EC$4.93

$1.80 ฿58.8

1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 EC$6.95

$3.23 ฿106

-20.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 EC$2.09

$0.90 ฿29.26

-14.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.80 EC$10.25

$1.41 ฿45.91

169.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.61 EC$9.75

$1.29 ฿42.12

179.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$40.26 EC$109

$14.08 ฿460

185.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 EC$176

$18.00 ฿588

263.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.58 EC$101

$41.06 ฿1,341

-8.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 EC$30.06

$5.92 ฿193

88.01%

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 EC$151

$54.7 ฿1,787

2.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.61 EC$63.8

$26.77 ฿874

-11.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.9 EC$151

$85.0 ฿2,776

-34.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.7 EC$180

$70.6 ฿2,306

-5.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 EC$1,292

$428 ฿14.0K

11.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 EC$1,213

$237 ฿7,752

89.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 EC$2,717

$801 ฿26.2K

25.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$841 EC$2,272

$515 ฿16.8K

63.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$621 EC$1,675

$617 ฿20.2K

0.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Portsmouth: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Portsmouth 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 0% higher in Portsmouth, 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 $54.0 in Portsmouth versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 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

Portsmouth vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Portsmouth costs about 32% 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 $1,716 per month in Portsmouth 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,144 in Portsmouth and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth at $1,144. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Portsmouth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,144 in Portsmouth. 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, Portsmouth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.