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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,536 per month in Kamloops vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,623 per month in Kamloops vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,711 per month in Kamloops vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kamloops costs about 193% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kamloops sits 89% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.20 CA$30.74

$1.94 ฿63.5

1044.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.4 CA$91.9

$18.64 ฿609

255.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$15.07

$7.82 ฿255

39.26%

Cappuccino

$4.30 CA$5.96

$1.95 ฿63.8

120.51%

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

$2.60 CA$3.60

$0.85 ฿27.77

205.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 CA$2.79

$0.35 ฿11.58

477.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 CA$8.37

$2.13 ฿69.6

183.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 CA$8.30

$3.73 ฿122

60.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.81 CA$3.89

$1.71 ฿56.0

64.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 CA$3.49

$1.63 ฿53.2

54.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 CA$6.43

$1.14 ฿37.15

307.02%

Eggs

$3.79 CA$5.24

$1.93 ฿63.1

96.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.36 CA$14.34

$16.21 ฿530

-36.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.29 CA$18.40

$3.12 ฿102

325.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.62 CA$21.63

$10.90 ฿356

43.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.76

$2.75 ฿90.0

51.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$1.21 ฿39.52

38.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 CA$5.54

$1.62 ฿53.0

146.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.93 CA$5.44

$1.59 ฿51.8

147.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 CA$3.81

$1.40 ฿45.70

96.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 CA$3.06

$1.17 ฿38.17

88.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.82 CA$3.90

$0.66 ฿21.60

327.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 CA$2.52

$0.53 ฿17.22

243.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.35 CA$22.63

$4.69 ฿153

248.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.27 CA$18.37

$18.66 ฿609

-28.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.45 CA$6.16

$1.80 ฿58.8

147.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 CA$5.15

$3.23 ฿106

15.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$0.90 ฿29.26

67.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.55 CA$50.6

$19.21 ฿628

90.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 CA$5.28

$1.41 ฿45.91

170.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 CA$2.25

$1.29 ฿42.12

25.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.73 CA$17.62

$7.84 ฿256

62.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 CA$1.78

$1.27 ฿41.58

0.79%

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

$25.1K CA$34.7K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

17.76%

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

$20.1K CA$27.9K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-9.39%

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

$174 CA$242

$69.1 ฿2,256

152.57%

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

$50.5 CA$70.0

$14.08 ฿460

258.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.3 CA$100

$18.00 ฿588

301.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 CA$76.5

$41.06 ฿1,341

34.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.91 CA$41.42

$6.96 ฿227

329.74%

Cinema Ticket

$11.97 CA$16.58

$5.92 ฿193

102.20%

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

$786 CA$1,088

$299 ฿9,766

162.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,070 CA$5,635

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-72.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.2 CA$95.8

$54.7 ฿1,787

26.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 CA$84.5

$26.77 ฿874

127.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 CA$115

$85.0 ฿2,776

-2.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 CA$162

$70.6 ฿2,306

65.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 CA$2,066

$428 ฿14.0K

248.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,233 CA$1,708

$237 ฿7,752

419.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,264 CA$3,134

$801 ฿26.2K

182.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,924 CA$2,664

$515 ฿16.8K

273.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,215 CA$7,220

$1,975 ฿64.5K

164.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,829 CA$5,302

$1,475 ฿48.2K

159.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,057 CA$4,233

$617 ฿20.2K

395.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

33.80%

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

Last update for Kamloops: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,492 in Kamloops 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 395% higher in Kamloops, 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 $66.0 in Kamloops versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $400 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

Kamloops vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kamloops costs about 193% 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 $3,804 per month in Kamloops 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 $786 per month in Kamloops 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 62% more in Kamloops, 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 Kamloops at $2,536. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kamloops it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,536 in Kamloops. 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, Kamloops makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.