😐A single person spends $2,328 per month in Drumheller vs $942 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,281 per month in Drumheller vs $1,427 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,234 per month in Drumheller vs $1,912 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Drumheller costs about 147% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Drumheller sits 73% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Drumheller
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.52CA$27.40
$2.08฿69.1
838.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.77CA$60.0
$19.91฿661
114.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.26CA$14.40
$5.58฿185
83.87%
Cappuccino
$2.91CA$4.09
$1.74฿57.7
67.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56CA$2.18
$0.72฿23.90
116.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54CA$2.17
$0.32฿10.63
381.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.64CA$5.10
$2.25฿74.7
61.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35CA$6.10
$3.81฿127
14.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Drumheller
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90CA$1.26
$2.02฿67.1
-55.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15CA$3.01
$1.57฿52.2
36.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.95CA$4.15
$1.40฿46.37
110.71%
Eggs
$3.45CA$4.83
$2.15฿71.5
60.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.94CA$15.35
$15.63฿519
-30.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.64CA$16.33
$2.95฿97.9
294.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.38CA$25.79
$9.49฿315
93.68%
Apples(1kg)
$4.42CA$6.21
$2.60฿86.5
70.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40CA$1.96
$1.08฿35.92
29.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.38CA$6.15
$1.59฿52.9
175.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.02CA$5.64
$1.45฿48.25
177.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49CA$2.10
$1.28฿42.40
16.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92CA$2.69
$1.11฿36.90
72.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.43CA$3.41
$0.73฿24.12
232.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87CA$2.62
$0.50฿16.59
274.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.32CA$20.09
$4.27฿142
235.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.65CA$16.34
$17.67฿587
-34.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62CA$5.08
$1.68฿55.9
115.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03CA$4.26
$2.80฿93.1
8.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Drumheller
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38CA$3.35
$0.87฿28.74
173.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.3CA$88.9
$54.2฿1,800
16.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.89CA$4.05
$1.21฿40.28
138.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43CA$2.00
$0.54฿17.90
164.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.98CA$30.85
$2.39฿79.3
819.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12CA$1.58
$1.46฿48.62
-23.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8KCA$40.4K
$21.0K฿698.1K
37.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5KCA$27.4K
$26.7K฿886.7K
-26.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Drumheller
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$228CA$320
$62.1฿2,062
267.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.24CA$56.5
$12.93฿429
211.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0CA$79.9
$20.61฿685
176.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Drumheller
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.17CA$57.8
$39.21฿1,302
5.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.92CA$25.14
$3.77฿125
375.33%
Cinema Ticket
$12.88CA$18.08
$6.52฿217
97.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Drumheller
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$788CA$1,105
$803฿26.7K
-1.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,720CA$13.6K
$14.7K฿488.2K
-33.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Drumheller
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.87CA$63.0
$55.9฿1,856
-19.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.17CA$64.8
$25.51฿847
80.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.3CA$121
$91.1฿3,025
-5.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4CA$139
$73.3฿2,435
35.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Drumheller
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,252CA$1,756
$484฿16.1K
158.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,168CA$1,640
$288฿9,574
305.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,005CA$2,814
$885฿29.4K
126.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,732CA$2,430
$523฿17.4K
230.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,274CA$5,998
$1,989฿66.1K
114.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,738CA$5,246
$1,440฿47.9K
159.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Drumheller
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$603฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
5.57
-22.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Drumheller: September 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,252 in Drumheller versus $484 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Drumheller versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $238 – 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
Drumheller vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Drumheller or Chiang Mai?
Drumheller costs about 147% 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 Drumheller and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,492 per month in Drumheller and $1,414 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Drumheller 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 Drumheller and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $788 per month in Drumheller and $803 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 Drumheller or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Drumheller, 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 Drumheller or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $942, than in Drumheller at $2,328. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Drumheller it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Drumheller or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $942 versus $2,328 in Drumheller. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Drumheller 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 Drumheller or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Drumheller makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Drumheller vs other spots: cost of living compared