Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Regina

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,112 in Regina, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Regina, Canada
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Regina
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,112
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,112 in Regina, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Regina $2,112

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,123 in Regina, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Regina $3,123

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,134 in Regina, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Regina $4,134

Chiang Mai is about 56% cheaper than Regina, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Regina is 55% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Regina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$21.30 CA$29.76
-89.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$68.4 CA$95.5
-72.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$10.76 CA$15.03
-48.42%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$4.59 CA$6.41
-63.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$2.37 CA$3.31
-73.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$1.73 CA$2.41
-82.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$6.52 CA$9.11
-63.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$5.89 CA$8.23
-37.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Regina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.57 CA$2.20
24.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$2.32 CA$3.24
-37.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$3.08 CA$4.30
-56.82%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$3.46 CA$4.84
-34.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$13.84 CA$19.34
18.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$11.65 CA$16.27
-76.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$16.65 CA$23.26
-44.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$4.31 CA$6.02
-45.48%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$1.47 CA$2.05
-34.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$3.80 CA$5.31
-57.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$3.73 CA$5.21
-59.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$2.20 CA$3.07
-41.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$2.43 CA$3.39
-54.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$2.58 CA$3.61
-72.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$1.98 CA$2.77
-75.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$14.52 CA$20.28
-71.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$13.37 CA$18.68
31.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$3.58 CA$5.01
-55.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$3.34 CA$4.67
-16.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Regina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$2.39 CA$3.34
-63.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$62.4 CA$87.1
-13.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$3.58 CA$4.99
-67.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$0.82 CA$1.14
-35.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$21.75 CA$30.39
-88.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.19 CA$1.67
21.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$28.1K CA$39.2K
-24.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$21.8K CA$30.4K
23.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Regina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$177 CA$247
-64.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$52.9 CA$73.8
-76.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$57.9 CA$80.9
-65.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Regina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$33.92 CA$47.39
9.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$16.71 CA$23.34
-77.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$10.55 CA$14.73
-38.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Regina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$430 CA$601
71.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$10.8K CA$15.1K
36.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Regina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$50.9 CA$71.2
4.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$38.30 CA$53.5
-35.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$92.8 CA$130
-1.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$110 CA$154
-34.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Regina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,143 CA$1,596
-57.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$864 CA$1,207
-64.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,681 CA$2,348
-40.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,367 CA$1,910
-53.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$2,188 CA$3,056
8.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,934 CA$2,702
-17.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Regina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$2,730 CA$3,814
-78.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.58
21.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Regina: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Regina
$864 180% $555
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Regina
$376 60.4% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Regina
$131 21% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Regina
$287 204% $193
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Regina
$318 311% $241
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Regina
$80 29.7% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Regina
$55 9.4% $4.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,143 in Regina. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Regina are about 4.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $68 in Regina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $376 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇦 Regina
🕒 Local time
15:32 3:32 PM
02:32 2:32 AM
13 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
215,106
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Regina 11,980 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Regina

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 Regina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Regina?
Regina costs about 126% 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 Regina?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,168 in Regina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Regina?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,143 in Regina.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Regina?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $430 in Regina. 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 Regina?
Groceries cost about 60% more in Regina, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Regina?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $2,112 in Regina. 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 Regina?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $2,112 in Regina. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Regina?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Regina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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