Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kamloops and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $2,432 in Kamloops, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kamloops
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,432
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kamloops 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 Kamloops and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,432 per month in Kamloops vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kamloops $2,432
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $3,611 per month in Kamloops vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kamloops $3,611
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $4,790 per month in Kamloops vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kamloops $4,790
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Kamloops costs about 159% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Kamloops sits 80% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kamloops
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.03 CA$29.73
$2.26 ฿75.4
830.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0 CA$103
$19.18 ฿641
280.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.29 CA$14.55
$5.59 ฿187
84.08%
Cappuccino
$3.87 CA$5.47
$1.72 ฿57.6
125.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 CA$3.45
$0.64 ฿21.54
281.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.43
$0.33 ฿11.18
421.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.07 CA$8.58
$2.36 ฿78.7
157.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.34 CA$8.97
$3.90 ฿130
62.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kamloops
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 CA$3.22
$2.05 ฿68.6
11.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 CA$3.41
$1.40 ฿46.70
72.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.35
$1.28 ฿42.89
196.09%
Eggs
$4.17 CA$5.89
$2.25 ฿75.3
85.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.31 CA$11.74
$16.94 ฿566
-50.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.99 CA$16.95
$2.74 ฿91.6
337.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.93 CA$23.93
$9.36 ฿313
80.88%
Apples (1kg)
$4.22 CA$5.97
$2.40 ฿80.3
75.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 CA$2.49
$1.01 ฿33.92
74.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.17 CA$5.89
$1.61 ฿53.9
159.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.04 CA$5.72
$1.52 ฿50.7
165.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$1.28 ฿42.90
120.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 CA$3.24
$1.11 ฿37.22
106.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.65 CA$3.74
$0.72 ฿24.09
268.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 CA$2.52
$0.52 ฿17.54
242.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.19 CA$22.88
$4.33 ฿145
273.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.40 CA$17.53
$17.73 ฿593
-30.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.74 CA$6.70
$1.63 ฿54.4
190.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 CA$5.29
$2.85 ฿95.3
31.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Kamloops
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 CA$2.17
$0.85 ฿28.31
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.59 CA$51.7
$53.9 ฿1,801
-32.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 CA$4.93
$1.17 ฿39.18
198.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$0.57 ฿19.00
238.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.04 CA$17.02
$2.37 ฿79.2
408.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 CA$1.81
$1.45 ฿48.32
-11.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.4K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
36.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K CA$27.0K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
-27.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kamloops
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 CA$274
$62.3 ฿2,083
210.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.68 CA$68.8
$12.27 ฿410
296.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.0 CA$91.9
$19.97 ฿668
225.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kamloops
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.51 CA$60.1
$37.91 ฿1,267
12.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 CA$37.53
$3.76 ฿126
606.12%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51 CA$16.27
$6.71 ฿224
71.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kamloops
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$755 CA$1,067
$797 ฿26.6K
-5.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,819 CA$5,399
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-74.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kamloops
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4 CA$86.8
$53.3 ฿1,780
15.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3 CA$79.7
$25.05 ฿837
124.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.9 CA$112
$91.6 ฿3,062
-13.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 CA$148
$73.5 ฿2,455
42.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kamloops
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,297 CA$1,833
$464 ฿15.5K
179.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,178 CA$1,665
$305 ฿10.2K
286.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,268 CA$3,207
$915 ฿30.6K
147.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,002 CA$2,830
$552 ฿18.5K
262.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,987 CA$7,050
$1,912 ฿63.9K
160.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,795 CA$5,365
$1,438 ฿48.1K
163.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kamloops
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,828 CA$3,998
$595 ฿19.9K
375.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.6
5.57
-17.41%

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

Last update for Kamloops: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kamloops
$1.2K
Chiang Mai
$305 74.1% $873
Groceries & Markets
Kamloops
$384
Chiang Mai
$238 38% $146
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kamloops
$307
Chiang Mai
$95 69.2% $213
Eating Out
Kamloops
$305
Chiang Mai
$79 74.1% $226
Clothing & Footwear
Kamloops
$136
Chiang Mai
$110 19.2% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Kamloops
$66
Chiang Mai
$51 21.7% $14
Getting Around
Kamloops
$56
Chiang Mai
$61 9.8% $5.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,297 in Kamloops versus $464 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 375% 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 $73.0 in Kamloops versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $238 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Kamloops
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
15:34 3:34 PM
05:34 5:34 AM
14 h ahead of Kamloops
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
90,280
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 October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kamloops Chiang Mai 11,390 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kamloops
  • 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
Kamloops vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kamloops or Chiang Mai?
Kamloops costs about 159% 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 Kamloops and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,648 per month in Kamloops and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kamloops 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 Kamloops and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $755 per month in Kamloops and $797 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 Kamloops or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 61% more in Kamloops, 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 Kamloops or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Kamloops at $2,432. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kamloops it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kamloops or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $938 versus $2,432 in Kamloops. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kamloops 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 Kamloops or to Chiang Mai?
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.

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