Cost of Living Comparison Between South Portland, ME and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between South Portland, ME and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,827 per month in South Portland, ME vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,143 per month in South Portland, ME vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,459 per month in South Portland, ME vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

South Portland, ME costs about 234% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

South Portland, ME sits 112% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 $20.19

$2.03 ฿68.5

894.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 $70.8

$18.71 ฿631

278.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 $12.06

$7.84 ฿265

53.83%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$1.93 ฿65.0

161.14%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$0.83 ฿28.05

239.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$0.35 ฿11.82

562.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.95 $5.95

$2.22 ฿74.9

168.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$3.79 ฿128

83.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.65 ฿55.5

-43.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.55 ฿52.4

120.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$1.18 ฿39.86

385.59%

Eggs

$3.97 $3.97

$2.01 ฿68.0

97.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.47 $16.47

$16.16 ฿545

1.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$3.03 ฿102

251.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.69 $16.69

$10.84 ฿366

53.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.68 ฿90.4

28.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.22 ฿41.21

18.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$1.63 ฿54.9

147.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.75 $7.75

$1.53 ฿51.6

406.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.34 ฿45.18

132.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.21 ฿40.93

150.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.70 ฿23.67

180.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$0.53 ฿17.73

207.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.56 $12.56

$4.69 ฿158

167.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$17.71 ฿598

-14.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.85 ฿62.3

-8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.21 ฿108

-5.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.89 ฿30.07

123.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.41 ฿47.48

44.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.29 ฿43.59

37.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.93 $28.93

$7.79 ฿263

271.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.29 ฿43.67

-34.88%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$21.8K ฿734.7K

25.52%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$21.7K ฿732.1K

15.13%

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

$211 $211

$70.0 ฿2,362

202.00%

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

$54.0 $54.0

$14.19 ฿479

280.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$17.42 ฿588

281.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.81 $42.81

$41.64 ฿1,405

2.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.55 $30.55

$6.89 ฿233

343.40%

Cinema Ticket

$14.82 $14.82

$5.78 ฿195

156.40%

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

$405 $405

$300 ฿10.1K

35.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K $14.8K

$14.5K ฿490.1K

1.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.61 $46.61

$55.4 ฿1,869

-15.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.75 $33.75

$26.31 ฿888

28.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 $86.9

$84.8 ฿2,863

2.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$70.5 ฿2,379

87.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,926 $1,926

$425 ฿14.4K

352.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,569 $1,569

$235 ฿7,933

567.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,288 $3,288

$802 ฿27.1K

309.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,550 $2,550

$516 ฿17.4K

394.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,780 $2,780

$1,926 ฿65.0K

44.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,373 $2,373

$1,451 ฿49.0K

63.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,266 $4,266

$586 ฿19.8K

627.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.71

34.20%

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

Last update for South Portland, ME: July 22, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,926 in South Portland, ME versus $425 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 628% higher in South Portland, ME, 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 $71.0 in South Portland, ME versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $404 vs $242 – 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

South Portland, ME vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

South Portland, ME costs about 234% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,241 per month in South Portland, ME and $1,271 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in South Portland, ME and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in South Portland, ME, 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 $847, than in South Portland, ME at $2,827. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in South Portland, ME it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $2,827 in South Portland, ME. 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, South Portland, ME makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.