Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,038 per month in Ajax, ON vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,920 per month in Ajax, ON vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,802 per month in Ajax, ON vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ajax, ON costs about 251% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ajax, ON sits 127% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.69 CA$20.41

$1.94 ฿63.6

657.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.8 CA$104

$18.64 ฿609

301.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.46 CA$14.54

$7.82 ฿256

33.76%

Cappuccino

$3.52 CA$4.89

$1.95 ฿63.9

80.51%

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

$1.96 CA$2.73

$0.85 ฿27.80

130.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.32

$0.35 ฿11.60

377.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 CA$5.06

$2.13 ฿69.7

70.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 CA$8.15

$3.73 ฿122

57.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 CA$2.44

$1.71 ฿56.0

2.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 CA$4.01

$1.63 ฿53.3

76.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 CA$6.21

$1.14 ฿37.18

292.11%

Eggs

$3.27 CA$4.54

$1.93 ฿63.2

69.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.67 CA$13.43

$16.21 ฿530

-40.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 CA$14.12

$3.12 ฿102

225.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.58

$10.90 ฿356

49.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.15

$2.75 ฿90.1

61.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$1.21 ฿39.56

24.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 CA$4.04

$1.62 ฿53.0

79.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 CA$6.30

$1.59 ฿51.9

184.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 CA$3.37

$1.40 ฿45.75

72.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.56

$1.17 ฿38.20

118.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.88 CA$4.00

$0.66 ฿21.62

336.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.41

$0.53 ฿17.24

226.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.21 CA$19.74

$4.69 ฿153

202.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.22 CA$19.75

$18.66 ฿610

-23.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 CA$3.11

$1.80 ฿58.8

24.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 CA$3.22

$3.23 ฿106

-28.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$0.90 ฿29.28

185.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.8 CA$91.4

$19.21 ฿628

242.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$1.41 ฿45.96

117.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.79 CA$3.88

$1.29 ฿42.16

116.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.44 CA$35.35

$7.84 ฿256

224.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.62

$1.27 ฿41.62

-8.66%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$21.3K ฿695.5K

18.58%

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

$20.1K CA$28.0K

$22.2K ฿726.1K

-9.28%

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

$188 CA$262

$69.1 ฿2,258

172.61%

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

$33.41 CA$46.42

$14.08 ฿460

137.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.9 CA$83.2

$18.00 ฿588

232.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.59 CA$46.67

$41.06 ฿1,342

-18.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.82 CA$15.04

$6.96 ฿227

55.46%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 CA$15.20

$5.92 ฿193

84.80%

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

$905 CA$1,258

$299 ฿9,775

202.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.5K

$15.0K ฿488.8K

22.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.88 CA$69.3

$54.7 ฿1,788

-8.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.21 CA$51.7

$26.77 ฿875

39.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$85.0 ฿2,778

2.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CA$156

$70.6 ฿2,308

59.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,809 CA$2,513

$428 ฿14.0K

322.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,856 CA$2,578

$237 ฿7,759

681.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,480 CA$3,446

$801 ฿26.2K

209.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 CA$3,096

$515 ฿16.9K

332.26%

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)

$3,081 CA$4,281

$617 ฿20.2K

399.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.83

36.60%

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

Last update for Ajax, ON: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,809 in Ajax, ON 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 399% higher in Ajax, ON, 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 $75.0 in Ajax, ON versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 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

Ajax, ON vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ajax, ON is pricier by about 251%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,558 per month in Ajax, ON 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 $3,038 in Ajax, ON and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 242% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Ajax, ON at $3,038. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ajax, ON it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Ajax, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.