Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bathurst, Canada

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.

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

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Bathurst

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Bathurst actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

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

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Bathurst $1,766

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

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

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

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

Chiang Mai is about 47% cheaper than Bathurst, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bathurst
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$15.87 CA$22.24
-86.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿623
$43.09 CA$60.4
-56.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿187
$11.65 CA$16.33
-51.93%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$3.38 CA$4.74
-50.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.63
$2.01 CA$2.82
-67.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.20
$1.57 CA$2.20
-80.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿77.7
$4.91 CA$6.88
-52.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
$4.93 CA$6.91
-25.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bathurst
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.4
$1.81 CA$2.53
11.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.08
$2.54 CA$3.57
-44.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.54
$2.57 CA$3.60
-45.91%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.2
$3.64 CA$5.11
-34.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿552
$11.43 CA$16.02
44.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.3
$9.22 CA$12.92
-71.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿302
$6.53 CA$9.15
38.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.2
$4.64 CA$6.50
-48.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.82
$1.61 CA$2.25
-35.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.5
$4.69 CA$6.57
-64.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.1
$1.89 CA$2.65
-17.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.39
$2.61 CA$3.66
-52.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.34
$1.52 CA$2.13
-28.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.47
$2.16 CA$3.03
-64.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.19
$1.58 CA$2.21
-67.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿138
$10.12 CA$14.18
-59.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿600
$12.00 CA$16.82
49.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.3
$3.24 CA$4.55
-50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.4
$4.70 CA$6.58
-40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bathurst
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.25
$3.63 CA$5.09
-74.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,769
$64.1 CA$89.9
-17.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.35
$2.94 CA$4.12
-59.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.73
$1.38 CA$1.93
-87.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.6
$21.38 CA$29.98
-91.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.25
$1.24 CA$1.74
18.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿702.6K
$28.5K CA$39.9K
-26.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.7K
$21.3K CA$29.9K
24.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bathurst
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,092
$103 CA$145
-39.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿388
$70.9 CA$99.4
-83.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿679
$61.1 CA$85.7
-66.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bathurst
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,267
$45.42 CA$63.7
-16.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
$31.85 CA$44.65
-88.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿218
$9.09 CA$12.75
-28.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bathurst
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.3K
$589 CA$825
23.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿554.2K
$6,759 CA$9,474
145.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bathurst
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,790
$54.0 CA$75.7
-0.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿829
$39.61 CA$55.5
-37.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,023
$78.5 CA$110
15.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,407
$82.8 CA$116
-13.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bathurst
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.1K
$750 CA$1,052
-35.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$696 CA$975
-55.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿80.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿53.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bathurst
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$2,031 CA$2,847
-70.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.77
16.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Bathurst
$696 125% $386
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Bathurst
$317 34.1% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Bathurst
$115 5.9% $6.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Bathurst
$235 149% $141
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Bathurst
$251 228% $175
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Bathurst
$88 50.8% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Bathurst
$64 25% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $750 in Bathurst. 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $43 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $317 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇦 Bathurst
🕒 Local time
10:58 10:58 AM
23:58 11:58 PM
11 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
12,157
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.54 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Bathurst 12,470 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Bathurst

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
Chiang Mai vs Bathurst: 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,649 in Bathurst. 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 Chiang Mai and in Bathurst?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,766 in Bathurst. 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 Chiang Mai or in Bathurst?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,766 in Bathurst. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Chiang Mai or in Bathurst?
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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