Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bathurst, Canada and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,766 in Bathurst, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Bathurst, Canada
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bathurst
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,766
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,766 per month in Bathurst vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Bathurst $1,766
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $2,053 per month in Bathurst vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Bathurst $2,053
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $2,339 per month in Bathurst vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Bathurst $2,339
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Bathurst costs about 89% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bathurst
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.87 CA$22.15
$2.13 ฿71.2
645.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.09 CA$60.2
$18.62 ฿622
131.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 CA$16.26
$5.60 ฿187
108.04%
Cappuccino
$3.38 CA$4.72
$1.66 ฿55.5
103.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 CA$2.81
$0.65 ฿21.59
209.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.19
$0.30 ฿10.18
423.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.91 CA$6.85
$2.32 ฿77.5
111.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 CA$6.88
$3.67 ฿122
34.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bathurst
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 CA$2.52
$2.02 ฿67.3
-10.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 CA$3.55
$1.41 ฿47.00
80.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.57 CA$3.59
$1.39 ฿46.46
84.89%
Eggs
$3.64 CA$5.09
$2.37 ฿79.0
53.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.43 CA$15.95
$16.52 ฿551
-30.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 CA$12.86
$2.67 ฿89.1
245.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.53 CA$9.11
$9.02 ฿301
-27.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.64 CA$6.47
$2.40 ฿80.1
93.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 CA$2.24
$1.04 ฿34.76
54.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.69 CA$6.54
$1.66 ฿55.4
182.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.89 CA$2.64
$1.56 ฿52.0
21.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 CA$3.65
$1.24 ฿41.31
110.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.52 CA$2.12
$1.09 ฿36.27
39.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 CA$3.01
$0.76 ฿25.43
184.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.20
$0.51 ฿17.16
209.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.12 CA$14.12
$4.12 ฿138
145.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.00 CA$16.75
$17.93 ฿598
-33.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.24 CA$4.53
$1.62 ฿54.2
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 CA$6.56
$2.82 ฿94.2
66.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Bathurst
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.63 CA$5.07
$0.93 ฿31.19
290.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.1 CA$89.5
$52.9 ฿1,766
21.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 CA$4.10
$1.18 ฿39.28
149.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 CA$1.92
$0.17 ฿5.72
711.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.38 CA$29.85
$1.81 ฿60.5
1081.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 CA$1.74
$1.47 ฿49.16
-15.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K CA$39.7K
$21.0K ฿701.4K
35.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K CA$29.7K
$26.5K ฿885.1K
-19.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bathurst
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 CA$144
$62.6 ฿2,088
64.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.9 CA$99.0
$11.60 ฿387
511.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1 CA$85.3
$20.30 ฿678
200.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bathurst
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.42 CA$63.4
$37.88 ฿1,264
19.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.85 CA$44.46
$3.70 ฿123
760.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.09 CA$12.69
$6.51 ฿217
39.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bathurst
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$589 CA$822
$727 ฿24.3K
-19.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,759 CA$9,435
$16.6K ฿553.2K
-59.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bathurst
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 CA$75.4
$53.5 ฿1,787
0.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.61 CA$55.3
$24.80 ฿828
59.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 CA$110
$90.4 ฿3,017
-13.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8 CA$116
$72.0 ฿2,402
15.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bathurst
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 CA$1,047
$481 ฿16.1K
55.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$696 CA$971
$310 ฿10.3K
124.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,058 ฿35.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$659 ฿22.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,418 ฿80.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,609 ฿53.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bathurst
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,031 CA$2,835
$595 ฿19.9K
241.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.77
5.57
-14.36%

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

Last update for Bathurst: 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
Bathurst
$696
Chiang Mai
$310 55.5% $386
Groceries & Markets
Bathurst
$317
Chiang Mai
$237 25.4% $81
Eating Out
Bathurst
$251
Chiang Mai
$77 69.5% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bathurst
$235
Chiang Mai
$94 59.8% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Bathurst
$115
Chiang Mai
$108 5.6% $6.4
Getting Around
Bathurst
$88
Chiang Mai
$59 33.7% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Bathurst
$64
Chiang Mai
$51 20% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $750 in Bathurst 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 Bathurst are about 3.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Bathurst versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $317 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Bathurst
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
19:25 7:25 PM
06:25 6:25 AM
11 h ahead of Bathurst
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,157
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 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bathurst Chiang Mai 12,470 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bathurst
  • 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
Bathurst vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Bathurst?
Yes – Bathurst is pricier by about 89%, 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 $2,649 per month in Bathurst 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 $481 there versus $750 in Bathurst.
What are total monthly expenses in Bathurst and in Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,766 in Bathurst and $935 in Chiang Mai. That makes Chiang Mai about 47% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 17% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Bathurst or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,766 in Bathurst and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Bathurst or in Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,766 in Bathurst. 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, Bathurst makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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