Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Fredericton

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,068 in Fredericton, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Fredericton, Canada
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Fredericton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,068
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,068 in Fredericton, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Fredericton $2,068

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,097 in Fredericton, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Fredericton $3,097

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,127 in Fredericton, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Fredericton $4,127

Chiang Mai is about 55% cheaper than Fredericton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Fredericton is 52% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Fredericton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.5
$16.01 CA$22.39
-86.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿640
$64.1 CA$89.7
-70.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$12.71 CA$17.77
-56.33%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.4
$4.09 CA$5.72
-59.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.51
$2.61 CA$3.65
-75.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.29
$2.16 CA$3.02
-85.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$5.65 CA$7.91
-58.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿123
$5.04 CA$7.05
-27.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Fredericton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.72 CA$2.40
13.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.41
$2.79 CA$3.91
-48.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.97
$2.53 CA$3.54
-47.43%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.0
$3.90 CA$5.46
-41.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿554
$11.43 CA$15.98
43.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$9.67 CA$13.52
-71.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$10.53 CA$14.73
-11.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.3
$4.65 CA$6.51
-49.46%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.75
$1.61 CA$2.25
-39.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.8
$4.78 CA$6.68
-66.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$5.40 CA$7.55
-72.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.06
$2.62 CA$3.66
-51.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.14
$1.51 CA$2.11
-27.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.79
$2.20 CA$3.08
-67.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.34
$1.66 CA$2.32
-70.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$11.36 CA$15.89
-63.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿590
$12.03 CA$16.82
45.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.4
$3.08 CA$4.31
-47.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$4.44 CA$6.21
-37.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Fredericton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.27
$2.19 CA$3.06
-60.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,823
$56.2 CA$78.6
-3.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.00
$2.79 CA$3.91
-58.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.78
$1.35 CA$1.88
-60.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.6
$21.08 CA$29.48
-88.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.82
$1.27 CA$1.77
14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿709.7K
$28.4K CA$39.7K
-25.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.9K
$21.5K CA$30.0K
25.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Fredericton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,095
$124 CA$173
-49.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿410
$72.4 CA$101
-83.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿678
$71.5 CA$100
-71.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Fredericton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,257
$37.23 CA$52.1
0.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$25.31 CA$35.40
-85.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$10.50 CA$14.69
-38.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Fredericton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$595 CA$832
23.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿497.6K
$1,728 CA$2,417
754.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Fredericton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,799
$50.8 CA$71.0
5.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿830
$39.42 CA$55.1
-37.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,083
$75.9 CA$106
20.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,424
$82.0 CA$115
-12.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Fredericton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,211 CA$1,693
-60.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$931 CA$1,302
-66.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$2,018 CA$2,823
-50.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.3K
$1,579 CA$2,208
-59.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.6K
$2,023 CA$2,830
16.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,815 CA$2,538
-12.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Fredericton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$2,557 CA$3,577
-76.94%
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Fredericton: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Fredericton
$931 201% $622
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Fredericton
$352 50.2% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Fredericton
$112 2.8% $3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Fredericton
$268 183% $173
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Fredericton
$273 251% $195
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Fredericton
$74 21.3% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Fredericton
$58 15.8% $7.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,211 in Fredericton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Fredericton are about 4.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $64 in Fredericton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $352 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇦 Fredericton
🕒 Local time
11:42 11:42 AM
01:42 1:42 AM
10 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
56,224
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.642 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Fredericton 12,670 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Fredericton

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 Fredericton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Fredericton?
Fredericton costs about 121% 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 Fredericton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,102 in Fredericton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Fredericton?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,211 in Fredericton.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Fredericton?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $595 in Fredericton. 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 Fredericton?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Fredericton, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Fredericton?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $2,068 in Fredericton. 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 Fredericton?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $2,068 in Fredericton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Fredericton?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fredericton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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