Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $3,281 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $28,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
Vanuatu Living Index157Cost of Living Index in VanuatuLearn more -
Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Vanuatu is 153.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 262.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Vanuatu is 129.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 190.6% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.78 VUV 1,497
$2.13 ฿71.4
500.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 VUV 6,697
$19.40 ฿649
194.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.57 VUV 1,706
$5.47 ฿183
166.36%
Cappuccino
$4.03 VUV 471
$1.68 ฿56.4
139.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 VUV 264
$0.66 ฿22.10
240.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 VUV 278
$0.34 ฿11.52
600.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 VUV 578
$2.42 ฿81.0
103.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 VUV 833
$3.73 ฿125
90.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.03 VUV 355
$2.06 ฿68.9
47.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 VUV 295
$1.46 ฿48.78
72.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.80 VUV 445
$1.35 ฿45.09
181.48%
Eggs
$5.87 VUV 687
$2.27 ฿76.0
158.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.92 VUV 1,863
$16.31 ฿546
-2.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.16 VUV 1,892
$2.70 ฿90.3
498.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.23 VUV 1,549
$9.20 ฿308
43.80%
Apples (1kg)
$6.80 VUV 797
$2.39 ฿80.1
184.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 VUV 250
$1.04 ฿34.66
105.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.11 VUV 481
$1.60 ฿53.7
156.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$9.62 VUV 1,126
$1.44 ฿48.37
568.06%
Potato (1kg)
$8.75 VUV 1,025
$1.30 ฿43.59
573.08%
Onion (1kg)
$4.33 VUV 507
$1.11 ฿37.29
290.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 VUV 289
$0.70 ฿23.55
252.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 VUV 139
$0.51 ฿16.99
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.06 VUV 1,178
$4.13 ฿138
143.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.80 VUV 1,499
$17.78 ฿595
-28.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 VUV 342
$1.63 ฿54.7
79.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 VUV 352
$2.87 ฿96.0
4.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 VUV 146
$0.86 ฿28.76
45.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.8 VUV 7,819
$53.2 ฿1,780
25.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 VUV 301
$1.22 ฿40.81
110.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 VUV 96.7
$0.56 ฿18.81
48.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.17 VUV 606
$2.31 ฿77.5
123.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 VUV 205
$1.50 ฿50.2
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K VUV 2.7M
$20.9K ฿698.3K
11.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K VUV 4.4M
$26.7K ฿895.0K
41.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$624 VUV 73.0K
$61.3 ฿2,051
918.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.67 VUV 2,654
$12.50 ฿419
81.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$367 VUV 42.9K
$20.36 ฿682
1701.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.9 VUV 8,063
$37.94 ฿1,270
81.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.76 VUV 1,962
$3.77 ฿126
344.56%
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.60 ฿221
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$634 VUV 74.2K
$774 ฿25.9K
-18.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,742 VUV 789.4K
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-53.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.55 VUV 4,747
$54.8 ฿1,835
-26.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.9 VUV 7,834
$25.26 ฿846
164.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.9 VUV 9,706
$90.6 ฿3,032
-8.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.3 VUV 11.6K
$73.3 ฿2,453
35.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,583 VUV 185.4K
$459 ฿15.4K
245.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 VUV 142.6K
$294 ฿9,835
314.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,463 VUV 405.5K
$919 ฿30.8K
276.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,840 VUV 215.4K
$552 ฿18.5K
233.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,084 VUV 712.3K
$1,917 ฿64.2K
217.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,144 VUV 251.0K
$1,445 ฿48.4K
48.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$342 VUV 40.1K
$592 ฿19.8K
-42.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.18
5.57
10.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vanuatu: October 4, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu $1.2K 37.6%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 75.9% $924
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu $1K 31.3%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 90.7% $919
Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu $479 14.8%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 50.7% $243
Eating Out
Vanuatu $252 7.8%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 69.3% $174
Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu $130 4%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 15.8% $21
Getting Around
Vanuatu $78 2.4%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 22.8% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu $69 * 2.1%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 25.8% $18
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu $1.8K 34.2%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 70% $1.3K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu $1K 19.3%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 89.7% $929
Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu $1.1K 20.8%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 52.8% $592
Eating Out
Vanuatu $781 14.5%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 68.8% $538
Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu $290 5.4%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 15.8% $46
Getting Around
Vanuatu $159 3%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 22.9% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu $154 * 2.9%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 31.4% $48
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇻🇺 Vanuatu
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
300,019
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Vanuatu Chiang Mai 8,590 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
- Vanuatu
- Chiang Mai
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Vanuatu vs other spots: cost of living compared
Similar countries
157
Cost of Living Index in Luxembourg
Learn more
🇯🇪 Jersey
164
Cost of Living Index in Jersey
Learn more
🇬🇱 Greenland
150
Cost of Living Index in Greenland
Learn more
🇧🇸 Bahamas
163
Cost of Living Index in the Bahamas
Learn more
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
162
Cost of Living Index in Turkmenistan
Learn more
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
160
Cost of Living Index in Liechtenstein
Learn more
🇬🇺 Guam
160
Cost of Living Index in Guam
Learn more