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 $2,498 per month in Ajax, ON vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,606 per month in Ajax, ON vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,713 per month in Ajax, ON vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ajax, ON costs about 168% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ajax, ON sits 83% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.16 CA$25.40

$2.08 ฿69.2

773.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.4 CA$76.0

$19.61 ฿652

177.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 CA$15.25

$5.67 ฿189

92.24%

Cappuccino

$3.81 CA$5.32

$1.81 ฿60.0

110.50%

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

$1.78 CA$2.49

$0.77 ฿25.55

131.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.12

$0.35 ฿11.48

331.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 CA$5.11

$2.21 ฿73.6

65.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.67 CA$7.93

$3.79 ฿126

49.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 CA$2.81

$2.05 ฿68.1

-1.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 CA$4.16

$1.51 ฿50.4

96.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.51 CA$4.91

$1.40 ฿46.51

150.71%

Eggs

$3.09 CA$4.33

$2.26 ฿75.1

36.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.59 CA$13.42

$16.19 ฿538

-40.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.64 CA$16.28

$2.90 ฿96.3

301.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.19 CA$24.06

$9.42 ฿313

82.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.68

$2.68 ฿89.1

51.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 CA$2.33

$1.09 ฿36.23

53.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.82

$1.62 ฿53.8

156.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 CA$4.87

$1.46 ฿48.55

138.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 CA$4.09

$1.28 ฿42.48

128.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CA$2.78

$1.06 ฿35.17

87.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.11 CA$4.35

$0.72 ฿23.85

331.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.80

$0.53 ฿17.49

277.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.54 CA$20.34

$4.23 ฿141

243.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.06 CA$18.28

$18.29 ฿608

-28.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 CA$3.00

$1.63 ฿54.2

31.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 CA$3.71

$2.90 ฿96.5

-8.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 CA$3.40

$0.88 ฿29.20

176.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$125

$53.8 ฿1,788

66.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 CA$4.73

$1.17 ฿38.99

188.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.70 CA$34.55

$2.39 ฿79.3

933.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 CA$1.48

$1.45 ฿48.22

-27.59%

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

$28.2K CA$39.5K

$21.0K ฿698.6K

34.29%

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

$19.3K CA$27.1K

$26.4K ฿878.6K

-26.78%

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

$129 CA$181

$63.7 ฿2,116

103.08%

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

$27.02 CA$37.80

$12.89 ฿429

109.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$81.2

$20.52 ฿682

182.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.82 CA$47.31

$39.02 ฿1,297

-13.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.60 CA$14.83

$3.92 ฿130

170.41%

Cinema Ticket

$10.17 CA$14.23

$6.58 ฿219

54.56%

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

$912 CA$1,275

$784 ฿26.1K

16.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K CA$24.6K

$14.7K ฿487.9K

19.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 CA$71.5

$55.1 ฿1,833

-7.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.26 CA$53.5

$24.74 ฿823

54.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.4 CA$122

$94.1 ฿3,130

-7.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.4 CA$135

$74.0 ฿2,459

30.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,542 CA$2,157

$490 ฿16.3K

214.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,390 CA$1,945

$288 ฿9,582

382.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,361 CA$3,304

$891 ฿29.6K

164.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,231 CA$3,122

$521 ฿17.3K

328.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,991 CA$4,184

$602 ฿20.0K

397.15%

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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,542 in Ajax, ON versus $490 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 397% 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 $54.0 in Ajax, ON versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $241 – 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 168%, 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 $3,747 per month in Ajax, ON and $1,398 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 $2,498 in Ajax, ON and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 66% 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 $932, than in Ajax, ON at $2,498. 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.