Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncan BC and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncan BC and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,354 per month in Duncan BC vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,584 per month in Duncan BC vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,813 per month in Duncan BC vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Duncan BC costs about 172% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Duncan BC sits 76% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.54 CA$25.78

$1.94 ฿63.5

855.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 CA$96.7

$18.64 ฿609

273.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.24 CA$15.63

$7.82 ฿255

43.73%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.76

$1.95 ฿63.8

112.31%

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

$2.04 CA$2.83

$0.85 ฿27.77

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 CA$2.52

$0.35 ฿11.58

417.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 CA$7.09

$2.13 ฿69.6

139.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$3.73 ฿122

64.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 CA$2.13

$1.71 ฿56.0

-10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 CA$3.63

$1.63 ฿53.2

60.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 CA$7.46

$1.14 ฿37.15

370.18%

Eggs

$3.53 CA$4.91

$1.93 ฿63.1

82.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 CA$14.26

$16.21 ฿530

-36.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.06 CA$16.77

$3.12 ฿102

286.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 CA$20.74

$10.90 ฿356

36.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 CA$4.64

$2.75 ฿90.0

21.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 CA$1.80

$1.21 ฿39.52

6.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.18

$1.62 ฿53.0

85.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.79

$1.59 ฿51.8

116.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 CA$3.31

$1.40 ฿45.70

70.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 CA$2.82

$1.17 ฿38.17

72.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$0.66 ฿21.60

259.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 CA$2.44

$0.53 ฿17.22

230.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.34 CA$19.94

$4.69 ฿153

205.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.01 CA$16.71

$18.66 ฿609

-35.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 CA$5.34

$1.80 ฿58.8

113.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 CA$5.50

$3.23 ฿106

22.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 CA$2.75

$0.90 ฿29.26

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.5 CA$106

$19.21 ฿628

298.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 CA$3.91

$1.41 ฿45.91

99.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.29 ฿42.12

16.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.35

$7.84 ฿256

270.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.27 ฿41.58

6.30%

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

$23.3K CA$32.4K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

9.53%

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

$20.7K CA$28.7K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-6.93%

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

$158 CA$220

$69.1 ฿2,256

128.67%

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

$41.92 CA$58.3

$14.08 ฿460

197.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 CA$93.0

$18.00 ฿588

271.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 CA$89.2

$41.06 ฿1,341

56.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 CA$17.69

$5.92 ฿193

114.86%

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

$920 CA$1,279

$299 ฿9,766

207.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K CA$14.9K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-28.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 CA$78.5

$54.7 ฿1,787

3.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.3 CA$71.4

$26.77 ฿874

91.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 CA$138

$85.0 ฿2,776

16.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 CA$134

$70.6 ฿2,306

36.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,280 CA$1,781

$428 ฿14.0K

199.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,154 CA$1,605

$237 ฿7,752

386.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 CA$3,353

$801 ฿26.2K

200.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,216 CA$3,082

$515 ฿16.8K

329.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,387 CA$6,101

$1,975 ฿64.5K

122.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,646 CA$5,071

$1,475 ฿48.2K

147.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,217 CA$4,474

$617 ฿20.2K

421.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

30.80%

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

Last update for Duncan BC: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,280 in Duncan BC 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 421% higher in Duncan BC, 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 $70.0 in Duncan BC versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 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

Duncan BC vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duncan BC costs about 172% 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 $3,532 per month in Duncan BC and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $920 per month in Duncan BC and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Duncan BC, 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 $866, than in Duncan BC at $2,354. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Duncan BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,354 in Duncan BC. 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, Duncan BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.