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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,480 in Belleville, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,365 in Belleville, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,251 in Belleville, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 65% cheaper than Belleville, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Belleville is 85% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$18.64 CA$25.89

-89.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$58.4 CA$81.1

-68.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$11.20 CA$15.56

-30.18%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.01 CA$5.57

-51.37%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.02 CA$2.81

-57.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.66 CA$2.31

-78.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$4.74 CA$6.58

-55.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$5.77 CA$8.01

-35.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.69 CA$2.35

1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.26 CA$3.14

-27.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$3.66 CA$5.08

-68.85%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.30 CA$4.58

-41.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.83 CA$13.66

64.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$9.02 CA$12.54

-65.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$14.10 CA$19.59

-22.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.86 CA$5.37

-28.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.12 CA$1.55

8.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.27 CA$4.55

-50.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$3.28 CA$4.55

-51.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$2.39 CA$3.32

-41.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.65 CA$2.29

-29.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.29 CA$3.18

-71.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.98 CA$2.75

-73.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$12.74 CA$17.71

-63.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$11.90 CA$16.54

56.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.63 CA$3.66

-31.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.00 CA$4.17

7.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$2.16 CA$3.00

-58.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$44.93 CA$62.4

-57.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$3.62 CA$5.02

-61.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$2.09 CA$2.90

-38.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$26.19 CA$36.39

-70.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.10 CA$1.53

15.45%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$25.2K CA$35.0K

-15.53%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$19.4K CA$26.9K

14.53%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$118 CA$164

-41.35%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$38.12 CA$53.0

-63.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$53.8 CA$74.7

-66.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$41.81 CA$58.1

-1.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$24.85 CA$34.52

-71.99%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$10.82 CA$15.03

-45.29%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$459 CA$637

-34.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$6,338 CA$8,806

135.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$35.12 CA$48.80

55.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$35.50 CA$49.32

-24.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$89.9 CA$125

-5.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$84.9 CA$118

-16.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$1,371 CA$1,905

-68.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$1,416 CA$1,967

-83.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,893 CA$2,630

-57.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,802 CA$2,504

-71.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,231 CA$3,099

-11.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,347 CA$3,261

-37.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$2,852 CA$3,963

-78.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

-3.10%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Belleville: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,371 in Belleville. 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 362% higher in Belleville, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $58.0 in Belleville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $326 – 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

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

Yes – Belleville is pricier by about 186%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,720 in Belleville. 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $459 in Belleville. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Belleville, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Belleville at $2,480. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belleville 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, Belleville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.