Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and North Vancouver

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,792 in North Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $22,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
134

Cost of Living Index in North Vancouver
Learn more

North Vancouver Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

North Vancouver

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,792

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in North Vancouver

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,792 in North Vancouver, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
North Vancouver $2,792

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,190 in North Vancouver, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
North Vancouver $4,190

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,588 in North Vancouver, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
North Vancouver $5,588

Chiang Mai is about 66% cheaper than North Vancouver, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while North Vancouver is 107% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

$21.53 CA$30.18

-90.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿623

$64.6 CA$90.5

-71.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$9.20 CA$12.89

-39.13%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$4.34 CA$6.08

-61.75%

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

$0.65 ฿21.63

$2.26 CA$3.16

-71.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.20

$1.72 CA$2.41

-82.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.7

$4.94 CA$6.92

-53.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$6.22 CA$8.72

-41.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$2.00 CA$2.81

1.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.08

$2.89 CA$4.06

-51.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.54

$3.39 CA$4.75

-59.00%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.2

$3.14 CA$4.40

-24.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿552

$13.91 CA$19.49

18.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.3

$14.01 CA$19.64

-80.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

$15.65 CA$21.93

-42.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.2

$4.17 CA$5.84

-42.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.82

$1.42 CA$1.99

-26.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.5

$4.38 CA$6.14

-62.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.1

$4.18 CA$5.86

-62.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.39

$2.91 CA$4.09

-57.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.34

$2.84 CA$3.98

-61.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.47

$2.80 CA$3.93

-72.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.19

$2.12 CA$2.98

-75.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$14.32 CA$20.07

-71.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿600

$14.15 CA$19.83

26.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.3

$2.15 CA$3.01

-24.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.4

$2.80 CA$3.92

0.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.25

$2.57 CA$3.61

-63.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,769

$102 CA$143

-48.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.35

$2.70 CA$3.79

-56.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.73

$1.52 CA$2.13

-88.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.6

$27.60 CA$38.69

-93.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.25

$1.28 CA$1.80

14.84%

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

$21.0K ฿702.6K

$28.0K CA$39.3K

-25.07%

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

$26.5K ฿886.7K

$20.8K CA$29.1K

27.59%

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

$62.6 ฿2,092

$128 CA$180

-51.22%

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

$11.60 ฿388

$37.76 CA$52.9

-69.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿679

$48.56 CA$68.1

-58.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,267

$27.51 CA$38.57

37.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$24.73 CA$34.67

-85.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

$12.29 CA$17.23

-47.03%

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

$727 ฿24.3K

$1,049 CA$1,470

-30.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿554.2K

$13.0K CA$18.2K

27.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,790

$65.1 CA$91.2

-17.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿829

$38.80 CA$54.4

-36.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,023

$82.3 CA$115

9.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,407

$111 CA$155

-34.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$1,976 CA$2,770

-75.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$1,567 CA$2,196

-80.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.4K

$3,383 CA$4,742

-68.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

$2,800 CA$3,925

-76.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.8K

$8,282 CA$11.6K

-70.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.8K

$5,889 CA$8,255

-72.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$3,142 CA$4,405

-81.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.69

18.76%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for North Vancouver: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

North Vancouver

$1.6K 56.1% 406% $1.3K

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

North Vancouver

$397 14.2% 67.9% $161

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

North Vancouver

$134 4.8% 23.3% $25

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

North Vancouver

$215 7.7% 127% $120

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

North Vancouver

$305 10.9% 298% $228

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

North Vancouver

$123 4.4% 109% $64

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

North Vancouver

$52 1.9% 2.4% $1.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $1,976 in North Vancouver. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in North Vancouver are about 5.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $65 in North Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $397 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇨🇦 North Vancouver

🕒 Local time

07:34 7:34 AM

17:34 5:34 PM

14 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

48,200

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Canadian Dollar CAD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 CAD = 0.713 USD

1 CAD = 0.635 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.54 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai North Vancouver 11,380 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
North Vancouver

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 North Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Vancouver costs about 198% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,188 in North Vancouver. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,976 in North Vancouver.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,049 in North Vancouver. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 68% more in North Vancouver, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $2,792 in North Vancouver. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $935 versus $2,792 in North Vancouver. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, North Vancouver makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.