๐A single person spends $2,250 per month in Estevan vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,286 per month in Estevan vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,323 per month in Estevan vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐Estevan costs about 158% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Estevan sits 67% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Estevan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.47CA$30.79
$2.01เธฟ64.5
1017.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8CA$103
$18.23เธฟ584
310.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.92CA$8.11
$7.65เธฟ245
-22.61%
Cappuccino
$2.20CA$3.01
$1.92เธฟ61.5
14.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31CA$3.17
$0.84เธฟ26.97
175.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89CA$2.59
$0.36เธฟ11.42
425.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94CA$8.14
$2.19เธฟ70.2
171.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93CA$8.12
$3.79เธฟ121
56.46%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Estevan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96CA$1.32
$1.64เธฟ52.5
-41.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21CA$1.66
$1.62เธฟ52.0
-25.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16CA$4.33
$1.15เธฟ36.98
174.78%
Eggs
$1.96CA$2.68
$1.94เธฟ62.2
1.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.60CA$15.89
$15.94เธฟ511
-27.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.32CA$8.66
$3.10เธฟ99.5
103.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.98CA$24.64
$11.07เธฟ355
62.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62CA$4.96
$2.71เธฟ86.8
33.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27CA$1.74
$1.18เธฟ37.80
7.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.27CA$5.85
$1.71เธฟ54.7
149.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52CA$4.82
$1.61เธฟ51.5
118.63%
Potato(1kg)
$3.31CA$4.54
$1.39เธฟ44.66
138.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82CA$3.87
$1.15เธฟ36.81
145.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51CA$2.07
$0.71เธฟ22.83
112.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41CA$0.56
$0.55เธฟ17.65
-25.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.91CA$20.43
$4.57เธฟ146
226.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.35CA$18.29
$18.87เธฟ605
-29.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.68CA$5.04
$1.82เธฟ58.4
102.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94CA$4.03
$3.21เธฟ103
-8.41%
๐ Getting Around
Estevan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.39CA$3.27
$0.88เธฟ28.24
171.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.4CA$86.8
$18.89เธฟ606
235.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23CA$4.43
$1.41เธฟ45.30
129.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67CA$0.92
$1.30เธฟ41.71
-48.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.53CA$40.45
$8.20เธฟ263
260.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11CA$1.51
$1.23เธฟ39.29
-9.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$34.8K
$21.2Kเธฟ678.9K
20.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0KCA$27.4K
$22.3Kเธฟ715.3K
-10.35%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Estevan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136CA$186
$69.9เธฟ2,240
94.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1CA$70.0
$14.07เธฟ451
262.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4CA$69.0
$17.70เธฟ567
184.69%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Estevan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.65CA$57.1
$41.41เธฟ1,328
0.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.69เธฟ215
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.27CA$12.69
$5.74เธฟ184
61.50%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Estevan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$490CA$672
$299เธฟ9,593
63.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1KCA$15.2K
$15.0Kเธฟ481.2K
-26.18%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Estevan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7CA$86.0
$54.8เธฟ1,758
14.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.61CA$44.67
$26.35เธฟ845
23.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.1CA$117
$84.7เธฟ2,714
0.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108CA$148
$69.7เธฟ2,236
55.23%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Estevan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,307CA$1,791
$427เธฟ13.7K
206.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,172CA$1,606
$241เธฟ7,718
386.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,998CA$2,737
$811เธฟ26.0K
146.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,810CA$2,479
$498เธฟ16.0K
263.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,835CA$5,254
$2,022เธฟ64.8K
89.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,112CA$4,264
$1,524เธฟ48.9K
104.24%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Estevan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,353CA$5,964
$639เธฟ20.5K
581.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.47
5
29.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Estevan: April 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,307 in Estevan versus $427 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.
๐ฐSalaries run about 581% higher in Estevan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Estevan versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $246 โ 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
Estevan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Estevan or Chiang Mai?
Estevan costs about 158% 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 Estevan vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,375 per month in Estevan and $1,308 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Estevan 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 Estevan and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Estevan 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 Estevan or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Estevan, 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 Estevan or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Estevan at $2,250. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Estevan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Estevan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $872 versus $2,250 in Estevan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Estevan 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Estevan or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Estevan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.