Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Airdrie and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,579 in Airdrie, rent and utilities included – about $19,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Airdrie, Canada
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Airdrie
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,579
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Airdrie and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Airdrie and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,579 per month in Airdrie vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Airdrie $2,579
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $3,704 per month in Airdrie vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Airdrie $3,704
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $4,829 per month in Airdrie vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Airdrie $4,829
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Airdrie costs about 176% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Airdrie sits 91% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Airdrie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.37 CA$25.84
$2.13 ฿71.6
762.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4 CA$110
$18.62 ฿624
321.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 CA$14.98
$5.60 ฿188
90.18%
Cappuccino
$3.92 CA$5.51
$1.66 ฿55.8
136.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 CA$3.25
$0.65 ฿21.69
255.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 CA$2.85
$0.30 ฿10.22
576.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 CA$8.26
$2.32 ฿77.9
153.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.23 CA$8.76
$3.67 ฿123
69.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Airdrie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 CA$2.79
$2.02 ฿67.6
-1.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 CA$3.73
$1.41 ฿47.21
87.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 CA$5.13
$1.39 ฿46.67
161.87%
Eggs
$3.71 CA$5.21
$2.37 ฿79.4
56.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.98 CA$15.44
$16.52 ฿554
-33.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.27 CA$15.85
$2.67 ฿89.5
322.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.11 CA$26.87
$9.02 ฿302
111.86%
Apples (1kg)
$4.75 CA$6.68
$2.40 ฿80.4
97.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 CA$1.92
$1.04 ฿34.91
30.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 CA$6.16
$1.66 ฿55.6
163.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.87 CA$5.44
$1.56 ฿52.3
148.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 CA$4.03
$1.24 ฿41.50
130.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 CA$4.16
$1.09 ฿36.44
171.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.71 CA$3.81
$0.76 ฿25.54
256.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 CA$2.64
$0.51 ฿17.24
268.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.38 CA$20.22
$4.12 ฿138
249.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.40 CA$16.03
$17.93 ฿601
-36.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54 CA$4.97
$1.62 ฿54.4
118.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 CA$4.46
$2.82 ฿94.6
12.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Airdrie
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.10 CA$2.96
$0.93 ฿31.33
125.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$181 CA$254
$52.9 ฿1,773
241.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 CA$4.62
$1.18 ฿39.45
178.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 CA$1.95
$0.17 ฿5.75
717.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.17 CA$29.77
$1.81 ฿60.8
1069.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 CA$1.65
$1.47 ฿49.38
-20.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.2K
$21.0K ฿704.5K
32.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K CA$29.4K
$26.5K ฿889.1K
-21.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Airdrie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 CA$314
$62.6 ฿2,098
256.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.70 CA$62.9
$11.60 ฿389
285.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.5 CA$78.0
$20.30 ฿681
173.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Airdrie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$87.4 CA$123
$37.88 ฿1,270
130.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.08 CA$49.34
$3.70 ฿124
848.11%
Cinema Ticket
$14.09 CA$19.82
$6.51 ฿218
116.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Airdrie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$646 CA$908
$727 ฿24.4K
-11.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,848 CA$13.8K
$16.6K ฿555.7K
-40.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Airdrie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.68 CA$61.4
$53.5 ฿1,795
-18.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.16 CA$60.7
$24.80 ฿832
74.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 CA$120
$90.4 ฿3,031
-5.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$72.0 ฿2,413
53.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Airdrie
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 CA$1,787
$481 ฿16.1K
164.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 CA$1,607
$310 ฿10.4K
268.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,765 CA$2,482
$1,058 ฿35.5K
66.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,655 CA$2,327
$659 ฿22.1K
151.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,073 CA$8,541
$2,418 ฿81.1K
151.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,230 CA$8,762
$1,609 ฿53.9K
287.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Airdrie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,961 CA$4,164
$595 ฿19.9K
397.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.32
5.57
-22.44%

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

Last update for Airdrie: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Airdrie
$1.1K
Chiang Mai
$310 72.9% $833
Groceries & Markets
Airdrie
$386
Chiang Mai
$237 38.7% $149
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Airdrie
$323
Chiang Mai
$94 70.8% $229
Eating Out
Airdrie
$285
Chiang Mai
$77 73.1% $209
Getting Around
Airdrie
$199
Chiang Mai
$59 70.6% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Airdrie
$127
Chiang Mai
$108 14.9% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Airdrie
$116
Chiang Mai
$51 56% $65

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,271 in Airdrie versus $481 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 in Airdrie are about 5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Airdrie versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Airdrie
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
15:13 3:13 PM
04:13 4:13 AM
13 h ahead of Airdrie
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
54,891
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.711 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.636 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Airdrie Chiang Mai 11,590 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Airdrie
  • 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
Airdrie vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Airdrie and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,579 in Airdrie, $935 in Chiang Mai – Chiang Mai comes out roughly 64% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Airdrie compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,869 per month in Airdrie and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Airdrie and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,271 in Airdrie.
Which city is more expensive overall: Airdrie or Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,579 in Airdrie and $935 in Chiang Mai. That makes Chiang Mai about 64% cheaper.
How do commuting costs compare in Airdrie and in Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 71% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is feasible on a $800 budget?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,579 in Airdrie and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Airdrie and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $2,579 in Airdrie. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Airdrie and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Airdrie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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