Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Fort St John, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Fort St John, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,728 in Fort St John, BC, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,737 in Fort St John, BC, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,746 in Fort St John, BC, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 50% cheaper than Fort St John, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Fort St John, BC is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$13.80 CA$19.10

-85.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$44.90 CA$62.2

-58.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$9.53 CA$13.20

-17.94%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$4.31 CA$5.97

-54.76%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.85 CA$2.57

-54.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.25 CA$1.73

-72.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$6.35 CA$8.79

-66.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$5.60 CA$7.76

-33.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.35 CA$3.25

-27.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.29 CA$4.55

-50.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$3.94 CA$5.45

-71.07%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.86 CA$5.35

-50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.57 CA$9.10

146.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$12.13 CA$16.79

-74.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$19.41 CA$26.87

-43.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$5.22 CA$7.23

-47.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.68 CA$0.94

77.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.85 CA$5.33

-57.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.75 CA$5.19

-57.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$5.22 CA$7.23

-73.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.90 CA$4.02

-59.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.51 CA$3.47

-73.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$2.25 CA$3.11

-76.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$14.68 CA$20.33

-68.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$21.27 CA$29.44

-12.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.95 CA$4.08

-38.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.02 CA$4.18

6.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.45 CA$2.00

-37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$29.49 CA$40.84

-34.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$7.24 CA$10.03

-80.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.02 CA$1.41

26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$26.28 CA$36.38

-70.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.26 CA$1.75

0.79%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$25.2K CA$34.9K

-15.58%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$20.5K CA$28.4K

8.30%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$86.3 CA$119

-19.96%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$104 CA$144

-86.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$65.1 CA$90.1

-72.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$55.9 CA$77.3

-26.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$10.91 CA$15.10

-45.74%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$745 CA$1,032

-59.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$11.6K CA$16.1K

28.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$74.3 CA$103

-26.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$48.13 CA$66.6

-44.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$84.7 CA$117

0.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$145 CA$201

-51.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$589 CA$815

-27.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$552 CA$765

-57.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,302 CA$1,803

-38.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,125 CA$1,557

-54.17%

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)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,124 CA$4,325

-80.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.45

-32.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Fort St John, BC: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $589 in Fort St John, BC. 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 406% higher in Fort St John, BC, 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 $45.00 in Fort St John, BC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $412 – 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 Fort St John, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort St John, BC costs about 99% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,592 in Fort St John, BC. 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 $745 in Fort St John, BC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in Fort St John, BC, 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 Fort St John, BC at $1,728. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort St John, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,728 in Fort St John, BC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Fort St John, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.