Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Joliette and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,717 in Joliette, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Joliette, Canada
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Joliette
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,717
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Joliette and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Joliette and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,717 per month in Joliette vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Joliette $1,717
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $2,629 per month in Joliette vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Joliette $2,629
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $3,542 per month in Joliette vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Joliette $3,542
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Joliette costs about 83% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Joliette sits 27% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Joliette
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.60 CA$24.67
$2.13 ฿71.4
726.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 CA$75.4
$18.62 ฿623
188.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.50 CA$14.71
$5.60 ฿187
87.50%
Cappuccino
$2.43 CA$3.41
$1.66 ฿55.6
46.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 CA$2.84
$0.65 ฿21.63
212.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 CA$2.55
$0.30 ฿10.20
506.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.35 CA$6.09
$2.32 ฿77.7
87.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.35 CA$8.90
$3.67 ฿123
73.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Joliette
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.38 CA$3.34
$2.02 ฿67.4
17.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 CA$3.58
$1.41 ฿47.08
80.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.01 CA$4.23
$1.39 ฿46.54
116.55%
Eggs
$2.43 CA$3.41
$2.37 ฿79.2
2.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.71 CA$16.41
$16.52 ฿552
-29.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.90 CA$16.68
$2.67 ฿89.3
345.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.48 CA$25.91
$9.02 ฿302
104.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.67 CA$5.14
$2.40 ฿80.2
52.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 CA$1.84
$1.04 ฿34.82
25.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 CA$5.29
$1.66 ฿55.5
127.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.51 CA$4.92
$1.56 ฿52.1
125.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 CA$3.69
$1.24 ฿41.39
112.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 CA$3.21
$1.09 ฿36.34
110.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 CA$2.23
$0.76 ฿25.47
109.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.16
$0.51 ฿17.19
201.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.45 CA$20.26
$4.12 ฿138
250.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.40 CA$17.38
$17.93 ฿600
-30.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 CA$3.61
$1.62 ฿54.3
59.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 CA$4.47
$2.82 ฿94.4
13.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Joliette
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 CA$3.16
$0.93 ฿31.25
143.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.9 CA$86.8
$52.9 ฿1,769
17.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 CA$3.91
$1.18 ฿39.35
136.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 CA$2.09
$0.17 ฿5.73
776.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.92 CA$26.53
$1.81 ฿60.6
945.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 CA$1.39
$1.47 ฿49.25
-32.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K CA$38.0K
$21.0K ฿702.6K
29.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K CA$31.5K
$26.5K ฿886.7K
-15.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Joliette
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 CA$191
$62.6 ฿2,092
118.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.62 CA$52.7
$11.60 ฿388
224.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4 CA$72.0
$20.30 ฿679
153.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Joliette
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.77 CA$53.0
$37.88 ฿1,267
-0.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.01 CA$25.24
$3.70 ฿124
386.76%
Cinema Ticket
$13.01 CA$18.24
$6.51 ฿218
99.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Joliette
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$838 CA$1,175
$727 ฿24.3K
15.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.5K
$16.6K ฿554.2K
-3.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Joliette
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 CA$70.5
$53.5 ฿1,790
-6.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.63 CA$52.7
$24.80 ฿829
51.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.3 CA$121
$90.4 ฿3,023
-4.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 CA$137
$72.0 ฿2,407
35.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Joliette
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$653 CA$916
$481 ฿16.1K
35.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$611 CA$857
$310 ฿10.4K
97.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 CA$1,786
$1,058 ฿35.4K
20.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 CA$1,518
$659 ฿22.0K
64.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,419 CA$6,195
$2,418 ฿80.8K
82.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,567 CA$5,000
$1,609 ฿53.8K
121.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Joliette
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,735 CA$3,833
$595 ฿19.9K
359.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
5.57
-25.31%

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

Last update for Joliette: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Joliette
$611
Chiang Mai
$310 49.3% $301
Groceries & Markets
Joliette
$361
Chiang Mai
$237 34.5% $125
Eating Out
Joliette
$251
Chiang Mai
$77 69.5% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Joliette
$225
Chiang Mai
$94 58.1% $131
Clothing & Footwear
Joliette
$122
Chiang Mai
$108 11.5% $14
Getting Around
Joliette
$81
Chiang Mai
$59 27.7% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Joliette
$64
Chiang Mai
$51 20.2% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $653 in Joliette versus $481 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 in Joliette are about 4.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Joliette versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Joliette
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
06:33 6:33 AM
18:33 6:33 PM
12 h ahead of Joliette
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
20,484
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Joliette Chiang Mai 12,770 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Joliette
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Joliette vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Joliette or Chiang Mai?
Joliette costs about 83% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Joliette and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,575 per month in Joliette and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Joliette or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $653 in Joliette.
How do childcare costs compare in Joliette and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $838 per month in Joliette and $727 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 Joliette or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 53% more in Joliette, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Joliette or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,717 in Joliette and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Joliette compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Joliette or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Joliette makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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