Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Drummondville

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,492 in Drummondville, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Drummondville, Canada
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Drummondville
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,492
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Drummondville actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,492 in Drummondville, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Drummondville $1,492

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,283 in Drummondville, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Drummondville $2,283

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,074 in Drummondville, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Drummondville $3,074

Chiang Mai is about 37% cheaper than Drummondville, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Drummondville is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Drummondville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.7
$12.63 CA$17.75
-82.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿642
$64.9 CA$91.2
-70.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿188
$9.91 CA$13.92
-44.00%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.6
$3.10 CA$4.36
-46.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.56
$1.37 CA$1.93
-53.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$1.09 CA$1.52
-71.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$3.55 CA$4.99
-33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$5.02 CA$7.06
-27.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Drummondville
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.47 CA$2.07
32.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.51
$2.14 CA$3.00
-32.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.07
$1.47 CA$2.06
-9.52%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$2.74 CA$3.85
-16.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿556
$8.86 CA$12.45
85.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$10.07 CA$14.15
-72.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$10.97 CA$15.41
-15.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.5
$3.16 CA$4.44
-25.63%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.82
$1.31 CA$1.84
-25.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$3.67 CA$5.16
-56.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$3.50 CA$4.91
-57.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.15
$1.88 CA$2.64
-31.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.22
$1.88 CA$2.65
-41.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.84
$2.18 CA$3.06
-67.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.38
$1.18 CA$1.66
-58.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$12.29 CA$17.26
-66.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿592
$10.71 CA$15.05
63.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.82 CA$3.96
-42.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$3.29 CA$4.62
-15.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Drummondville
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.33
$2.01 CA$2.83
-56.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,827
$41.52 CA$58.3
30.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.08
$5.05 CA$7.10
-77.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.82
$2.27 CA$3.19
-76.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$33.25 CA$46.71
-92.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$1.19 CA$1.68
21.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿711.2K
$27.7K CA$38.9K
-24.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.8K
$20.5K CA$28.7K
31.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Drummondville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,100
$54.8 CA$77.0
13.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$30.26 CA$42.51
-59.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿680
$45.80 CA$64.3
-56.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Drummondville
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,260
$33.02 CA$46.39
12.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$12.94 CA$18.19
-70.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$8.74 CA$12.28
-25.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Drummondville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.9K
$545 CA$766
35.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.6K
$2,458 CA$3,453
500.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Drummondville
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,802
$21.29 CA$29.91
150.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿832
$42.46 CA$59.7
-41.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,089
$72.5 CA$102
26.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,429
$35.12 CA$49.34
104.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Drummondville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$828 CA$1,164
-41.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$669 CA$939
-53.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿34.0K
$1,160 CA$1,630
-13.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,085 CA$1,524
-41.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Drummondville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$2,585 CA$3,632
-77.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.64
20.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Drummondville: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Drummondville
$669 116% $360
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Drummondville
$293 25% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Drummondville
$77 29% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Drummondville
$131 38.5% $36
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Drummondville
$206 165% $128
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Drummondville
$66 7.5% $4.6
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Drummondville
$51 0.4% $0.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $828 in Drummondville. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Drummondville are about 4.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $65 in Drummondville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $293 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇦 Drummondville
🕒 Local time
17:09 5:09 PM
06:09 6:09 AM
11 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
72,089
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.712 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Drummondville 12,770 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Drummondville

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 Drummondville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Drummondville?
Drummondville costs about 59% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Drummondville?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,238 in Drummondville. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Drummondville?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $828 in Drummondville.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Drummondville?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $545 in Drummondville. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Drummondville?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Drummondville, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Drummondville?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,492 in Drummondville. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Drummondville?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,492 in Drummondville. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Drummondville?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Drummondville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?