Cost of Living Comparison Between Bathurst and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bathurst and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,227 per month in Bathurst vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,170 per month in Bathurst vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,113 per month in Bathurst vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bathurst costs about 157% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Bathurst sits 66% 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$20.43

$1.94 ฿63.5

657.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.47 CA$60.5

$18.64 ฿609

133.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 CA$12.46

$7.82 ฿255

14.58%

Cappuccino

$3.40 CA$4.72

$1.95 ฿63.8

74.36%

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

$1.68 CA$2.34

$0.85 ฿27.77

97.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$0.35 ฿11.58

274.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.21 CA$7.25

$2.13 ฿69.6

144.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 CA$7.15

$3.73 ฿122

37.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.71 ฿56.0

14.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.78

$1.63 ฿53.2

66.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.61

$1.14 ฿37.15

253.51%

Eggs

$3.74 CA$5.20

$1.93 ฿63.1

93.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.75 CA$17.73

$16.21 ฿530

-21.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.51 CA$13.23

$3.12 ฿102

204.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.45 CA$8.98

$10.90 ฿356

-40.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 CA$5.58

$2.75 ฿90.0

45.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 CA$2.28

$1.21 ฿39.52

35.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.24

$1.62 ฿53.0

132.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.59 ฿51.8

18.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 CA$2.93

$1.40 ฿45.70

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 CA$3.07

$1.17 ฿38.17

88.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$0.66 ฿21.60

310.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 CA$2.60

$0.53 ฿17.22

252.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 CA$14.10

$4.69 ฿153

116.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.57 CA$16.10

$18.66 ฿609

-38.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.37 CA$4.69

$1.80 ฿58.8

87.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 CA$4.68

$3.23 ฿106

4.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.39 CA$3.32

$0.90 ฿29.26

165.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 CA$93.8

$19.21 ฿628

251.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.62 CA$10.60

$1.41 ฿45.91

440.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$1.29 ฿42.12

37.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.42 CA$40.92

$7.84 ฿256

275.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.61

$1.27 ฿41.58

-8.66%

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

$24.8K CA$34.4K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

16.36%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-5.97%

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

$106 CA$147

$69.1 ฿2,256

52.92%

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

$38.17 CA$53.1

$14.08 ฿460

171.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 CA$86.2

$18.00 ฿588

244.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.58 CA$60.6

$41.06 ฿1,341

6.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.15 CA$46.10

$6.96 ฿227

376.29%

Cinema Ticket

$11.06 CA$15.39

$5.92 ฿193

86.82%

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

$166 CA$231

$299 ฿9,766

-44.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K CA$16.7K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-19.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.42 CA$57.6

$54.7 ฿1,787

-24.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.09 CA$48.80

$26.77 ฿874

31.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 CA$102

$85.0 ฿2,776

-13.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 CA$192

$70.6 ฿2,306

95.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$724 CA$1,007

$428 ฿14.0K

69.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 CA$1,650

$237 ฿7,752

400.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,038 CA$2,834

$801 ฿26.2K

154.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,837 CA$2,554

$515 ฿16.8K

256.29%

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)

$2,109 CA$2,933

$617 ฿20.2K

241.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

29.20%

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

Last update for Bathurst: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $724 in Bathurst 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 242% higher in Bathurst, 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 $43.00 in Bathurst versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 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

Bathurst vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bathurst is pricier by about 157%, 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 $3,340 per month in Bathurst 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 $2,227 in Bathurst 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 251% 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 Bathurst at $2,227. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bathurst 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, Bathurst makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.