Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,515 in Ajax, ON, rent and utilities included – about $18,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ajax, ON, Canada
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ajax, ON
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,515
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ajax, ON 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 Ajax, ON and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,515 per month in Ajax, ON vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ajax, ON $2,515
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $3,611 per month in Ajax, ON vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ajax, ON $3,611
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $4,707 per month in Ajax, ON vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ajax, ON $4,707
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Ajax, ON costs about 169% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Ajax, ON sits 85% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ajax, ON
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.19 CA$25.43
$2.24 ฿75.6
712.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 CA$75.2
$19.00 ฿641
183.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.50 CA$14.67
$5.55 ฿187
89.19%
Cappuccino
$3.76 CA$5.25
$1.67 ฿56.5
125.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 CA$2.55
$0.64 ฿21.53
185.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.13
$0.31 ฿10.30
390.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.52 CA$4.91
$2.36 ฿79.5
49.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.62 CA$7.86
$3.66 ฿124
53.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ajax, ON
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 CA$2.82
$1.95 ฿65.7
3.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.99 CA$4.18
$1.44 ฿48.45
107.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.77
$1.33 ฿45.01
156.39%
Eggs
$3.87 CA$5.41
$2.28 ฿77.0
69.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 CA$14.75
$16.45 ฿555
-35.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.77 CA$16.45
$2.78 ฿93.8
323.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.12 CA$23.92
$9.31 ฿314
83.89%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 CA$5.78
$2.35 ฿79.4
76.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 CA$2.42
$0.97 ฿32.78
78.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.41
$1.60 ฿53.9
96.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.37 CA$4.71
$1.50 ฿50.6
124.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 CA$3.23
$1.28 ฿43.10
80.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 CA$3.44
$1.10 ฿37.17
123.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 CA$3.08
$0.71 ฿23.81
209.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.71
$0.49 ฿16.36
295.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.11 CA$19.73
$4.14 ฿140
240.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.79 CA$19.27
$17.52 ฿591
-21.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.97
$1.61 ฿54.5
31.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 CA$3.57
$2.78 ฿93.9
-8.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Ajax, ON
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 CA$3.45
$0.87 ฿29.29
183.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.5 CA$121
$54.1 ฿1,825
59.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.38 CA$4.73
$1.16 ฿39.03
191.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.53 ฿17.79
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.55 CA$34.31
$2.42 ฿81.7
914.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.65
$1.45 ฿48.87
-18.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.3K
$21.1K ฿710.3K
33.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K CA$30.4K
$26.9K ฿908.7K
-19.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajax, ON
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 CA$179
$62.2 ฿2,097
105.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.35 CA$41.01
$12.17 ฿410
141.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 CA$82.3
$20.12 ฿679
192.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ajax, ON
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.96 CA$47.46
$37.31 ฿1,259
-8.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 CA$15.00
$3.77 ฿127
184.62%
Cinema Ticket
$10.33 CA$14.44
$6.49 ฿219
59.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ajax, ON
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$522 CA$729
$736 ฿24.8K
-29.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.7K CA$23.4K
$14.8K ฿498.0K
13.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ajax, ON
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 CA$72.6
$53.4 ฿1,800
-2.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 CA$72.5
$24.64 ฿831
110.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.9 CA$133
$91.5 ฿3,086
3.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$150
$71.9 ฿2,426
49.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ajax, ON
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,510 CA$2,110
$482 ฿16.3K
213.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,374 CA$1,921
$309 ฿10.4K
344.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,351 CA$3,286
$1,006 ฿33.9K
133.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,173 CA$3,038
$633 ฿21.4K
243.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ajax, ON
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,081 CA$4,305
$590 ฿19.9K
422.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
5.57
-13.82%

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

Last update for Ajax, ON: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ajax, ON
$1.4K
Chiang Mai
$309 77.5% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Ajax, ON
$369
Chiang Mai
$234 36.5% $135
Eating Out
Ajax, ON
$264
Chiang Mai
$78 70.7% $187
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajax, ON
$216
Chiang Mai
$94 56.3% $122
Clothing & Footwear
Ajax, ON
$138
Chiang Mai
$109 21.1% $29
Getting Around
Ajax, ON
$100 *
Chiang Mai
$61 38.5% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Ajax, ON
$55
Chiang Mai
$50 7.9% $4.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,510 in Ajax, ON versus $482 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 Ajax, ON are about 5.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Ajax, ON versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Ajax, ON
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
12:35 12:35 PM
00:35 12:35 AM
12 h ahead of Ajax, ON
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
119,677
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 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ajax, ON Chiang Mai 13,050 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ajax, ON
  • 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
Ajax, ON vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Ajax, ON?
Yes – Ajax, ON is pricier by about 169%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,773 per month in Ajax, ON and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,510 in Ajax, ON.
What are total monthly expenses in Ajax, ON and in Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,515 in Ajax, ON and $936 in Chiang Mai. That makes Chiang Mai about 63% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 37% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Ajax, ON or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,515 in Ajax, ON and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Ajax, ON or in Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $2,515 in Ajax, ON. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajax, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ajax, ON vs other spots: cost of living compared

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