Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and St. Albert, AB Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and St. Albert, AB

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,207 in St. Albert, AB, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,496 in St. Albert, AB, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,785 in St. Albert, AB, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than St. Albert, AB, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and St. Albert, AB are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, St. Albert, AB 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.9

$19.99 CA$28.11

-89.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿659

$69.2 CA$97.4

-71.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿185

$10.09 CA$14.19

-44.70%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿57.5

$3.89 CA$5.47

-55.27%

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

$0.72 ฿23.82

$2.11 CA$2.97

-65.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.59

$1.88 CA$2.64

-82.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿74.5

$5.10 CA$7.17

-55.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿126

$5.84 CA$8.22

-34.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿66.8

$1.68 CA$2.37

20.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.0

$2.16 CA$3.04

-27.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.21

$3.17 CA$4.46

-55.84%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿71.3

$3.45 CA$4.85

-37.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿518

$11.65 CA$16.39

34.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.6

$11.67 CA$16.42

-74.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿314

$18.00 CA$25.32

-47.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿86.2

$4.40 CA$6.20

-40.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿35.80

$1.39 CA$1.95

-22.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.7

$4.20 CA$5.91

-62.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.09

$3.94 CA$5.54

-63.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.26

$2.55 CA$3.59

-49.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿36.78

$2.90 CA$4.08

-61.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.04

$2.66 CA$3.74

-72.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.54

$1.55 CA$2.18

-67.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿141

$14.00 CA$19.69

-69.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿585

$12.14 CA$17.08

45.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿55.7

$2.47 CA$3.47

-31.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿92.8

$2.86 CA$4.02

-2.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.64

$2.17 CA$3.05

-59.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,794

$61.7 CA$86.8

-12.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.15

$2.94 CA$4.13

-58.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.84

$1.39 CA$1.95

-61.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.0

$21.22 CA$29.84

-88.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.46

$1.18 CA$1.67

23.73%

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

$21.0K ฿695.7K

$28.8K CA$40.5K

-26.95%

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

$26.7K ฿883.8K

$19.3K CA$27.2K

38.10%

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

$62.1 ฿2,055

$178 CA$250

-65.11%

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

$12.93 ฿428

$38.54 CA$54.2

-66.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿682

$55.8 CA$78.5

-63.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,298

$40.49 CA$57.0

-3.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿216

$12.85 CA$18.07

-49.26%

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

$803 ฿26.6K

$779 CA$1,095

3.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿486.6K

$9,492 CA$13.4K

54.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,850

$56.5 CA$79.5

-1.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿845

$39.44 CA$55.5

-35.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,015

$85.2 CA$120

6.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,427

$110 CA$155

-33.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,542

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.3K

$1,344 CA$1,890

-34.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.3K

$1,141 CA$1,605

-54.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿65.9K

$2,616 CA$3,680

-23.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿47.7K

$2,564 CA$3,607

-43.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.0K

$3,296 CA$4,636

-81.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.48

24.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for St. Albert, AB: September 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 447% higher in St. Albert, AB, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $69.0 in St. Albert, AB. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $364 – 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 St. Albert, AB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St. Albert, AB costs about 28% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,811 in St. Albert, AB. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Chiang Mai and $779 in St. Albert, AB. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 53% more in St. Albert, AB, 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 $942, than in St. Albert, AB at $1,207. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in St. Albert, AB it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $942 versus $1,207 in St. Albert, AB. 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, St. Albert, AB makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.