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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,954 in Moncton, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,933 in Moncton, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,912 in Moncton, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 57% cheaper than Moncton, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Moncton is 47% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Moncton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿63.6
$18.55 CA$25.96
-89.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39 ฿598
$65.9 CA$92.2
-72.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.87 ฿256
$11.25 CA$15.75
-30.04%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.4
$3.36 CA$4.71
-41.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.57
$1.94 CA$2.71
-56.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.52
$1.74 CA$2.43
-81.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿69.6
$3.77 CA$5.28
-43.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿120
$4.51 CA$6.31
-18.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Moncton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿53.9
$2.64 CA$3.69
-37.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ฿50.7
$3.06 CA$4.28
-49.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.63
$3.52 CA$4.92
-66.19%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿64.7
$3.54 CA$4.95
-43.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.24 ฿528
$12.62 CA$17.67
28.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿103
$11.29 CA$15.80
-71.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.84 ฿352
$10.80 CA$15.11
0.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿86.2
$5.51 CA$7.71
-51.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.67
$1.55 CA$2.17
-21.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 ฿53.7
$3.79 CA$5.31
-56.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.3
$4.17 CA$5.83
-62.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 ฿43.17
$2.25 CA$3.14
-40.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.43
$2.57 CA$3.59
-52.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿22.04
$2.32 CA$3.25
-70.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿18.38
$2.23 CA$3.12
-74.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68 ฿152
$13.15 CA$18.41
-64.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 ฿552
$11.32 CA$15.85
50.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿59.3
$2.55 CA$3.57
-28.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿103
$4.16 CA$5.82
-23.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Moncton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ฿29.46
$2.26 CA$3.16
-59.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.74 ฿609
$51.4 CA$71.9
-63.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.80
$2.98 CA$4.17
-52.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.52
$1.30 CA$1.82
3.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ฿265
$22.18 CA$31.04
-63.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ฿41.53
$1.25 CA$1.75
2.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ฿709.3K
$24.6K CA$34.5K
-11.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ฿728.0K
$20.1K CA$28.1K
11.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Moncton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,291
$127 CA$178
-44.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05 ฿457
$38.27 CA$53.6
-63.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65 ฿574
$61.1 CA$85.5
-71.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Moncton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.29 ฿1,342
$37.74 CA$52.8
9.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76 ฿220
$6.87 CA$9.61
-1.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96 ฿194
$12.37 CA$17.31
-51.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Moncton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 ฿9,846
$397 CA$556
-23.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿486.2K
$7,278 CA$10.2K
105.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Moncton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,778
$54.4 CA$76.1
0.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29 ฿854
$39.55 CA$55.4
-33.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,788
$104 CA$146
-17.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,265
$148 CA$206
-52.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Moncton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿13.9K
$1,048 CA$1,467
-59.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,769
$830 CA$1,161
-71.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿26.4K
$1,622 CA$2,270
-50.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$510 ฿16.6K
$1,288 CA$1,803
-60.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,025 ฿65.8K
$2,184 CA$3,057
-7.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,502 ฿48.8K
$2,114 CA$2,959
-28.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Moncton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$623 ฿20.2K
$2,464 CA$3,448
-74.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.57
-23.90%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Moncton: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,048 in Moncton. 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 296% higher in Moncton, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $66.0 in Moncton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $376 – 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 Moncton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Moncton?
Moncton costs about 130% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 vs Moncton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,931 in Moncton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Moncton?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Moncton?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $397 in Moncton. 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 Moncton?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Moncton, 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Moncton?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Moncton at $1,954. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moncton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Moncton?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $1,954 in Moncton. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Moncton?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Moncton?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moncton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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