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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,163 per month in Chilliwack vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,224 per month in Chilliwack vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,285 per month in Chilliwack vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Chilliwack costs about 150% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chilliwack sits 61% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chilliwack
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.80 CA$20.49
$1.94 ฿63.5
662.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 CA$103
$18.64 ฿609
299.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 CA$13.59
$7.82 ฿255
25.58%
Cappuccino
$3.99 CA$5.52
$1.95 ฿63.8
104.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 CA$3.03
$0.85 ฿27.77
157.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.44
$0.35 ฿11.58
402.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 CA$8.13
$2.13 ฿69.6
175.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 CA$6.00
$3.73 ฿122
16.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chilliwack
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 CA$2.91
$1.71 ฿56.0
22.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 CA$3.88
$1.63 ฿53.2
72.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.55 CA$3.53
$1.14 ฿37.15
123.68%
Eggs
$3.80 CA$5.26
$1.93 ฿63.1
96.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$17.74
$16.21 ฿530
-20.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.81 CA$16.35
$3.12 ฿102
278.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.24 CA$18.34
$10.90 ฿356
21.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.26 CA$5.89
$2.75 ฿90.0
54.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 CA$1.84
$1.21 ฿39.52
9.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.04 CA$5.59
$1.62 ฿53.0
149.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.11 CA$7.08
$1.59 ฿51.8
221.38%
Potato (1kg)
$4.29 CA$5.94
$1.40 ฿45.70
206.43%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 CA$4.24
$1.17 ฿38.17
161.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 CA$3.79
$0.66 ฿21.60
315.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 CA$2.54
$0.53 ฿17.22
245.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.62 CA$21.63
$4.69 ฿153
233.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.10 CA$18.14
$18.66 ฿609
-29.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.13 CA$4.34
$1.80 ฿58.8
73.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 CA$5.24
$3.23 ฿106
17.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Chilliwack
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 CA$2.74
$0.90 ฿29.26
120.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.10 CA$48.60
$19.21 ฿628
82.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 CA$4.14
$1.41 ฿45.91
112.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 CA$3.13
$1.29 ฿42.12
75.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.15 CA$36.21
$7.84 ฿256
233.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 CA$1.79
$1.27 ฿41.58
1.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K CA$34.6K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
17.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K CA$27.8K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
-9.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chilliwack
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 CA$165
$69.1 ฿2,256
72.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.90 CA$63.6
$14.08 ฿460
225.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.6 CA$85.3
$18.00 ฿588
242.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chilliwack
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.33 CA$54.5
$41.06 ฿1,341
-4.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.30 CA$25.34
$6.96 ฿227
162.93%
Cinema Ticket
$12.00 CA$16.62
$5.92 ฿193
102.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chilliwack
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$547 CA$758
$299 ฿9,766
82.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K CA$24.6K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
18.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chilliwack
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 CA$84.0
$54.7 ฿1,787
10.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 CA$50.4
$26.77 ฿874
35.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.5 CA$134
$85.0 ฿2,776
13.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 CA$161
$70.6 ฿2,306
64.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chilliwack
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,165 CA$1,613
$428 ฿14.0K
172.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 CA$1,512
$237 ฿7,752
359.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,914 CA$2,651
$801 ฿26.2K
138.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,718 CA$2,378
$515 ฿16.8K
233.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,354 CA$4,644
$1,975 ฿64.5K
69.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,279 CA$4,540
$1,475 ฿48.2K
122.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chilliwack
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,222 CA$4,461
$617 ฿20.2K
421.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.65
5
13.00%

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

Last update for Chilliwack: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,165 in Chilliwack versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 422% higher in Chilliwack, 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 $75.0 in Chilliwack versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $246 – 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
Chilliwack vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chilliwack or Chiang Mai?
Chilliwack costs about 150% 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 Chilliwack vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,245 per month in Chilliwack and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chilliwack or Chiang Mai?
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 Chilliwack and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $547 per month in Chilliwack and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chilliwack or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Chilliwack, 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 Chilliwack or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Chilliwack at $2,163. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chilliwack it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chilliwack or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,163 in Chilliwack. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chilliwack compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Chilliwack or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chilliwack makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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