Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moncton and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $2,006 in Moncton, rent and utilities included – about $12,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Moncton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,006
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,006 per month in Moncton vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Moncton $2,006
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $3,025 per month in Moncton vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Moncton $3,025
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $4,045 per month in Moncton vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Moncton $4,045
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Moncton costs about 114% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Moncton sits 49% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moncton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.14 CA$25.64
$2.26 ฿75.4
702.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2 CA$93.6
$19.18 ฿641
245.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 CA$15.05
$5.59 ฿187
90.34%
Cappuccino
$3.59 CA$5.07
$1.72 ฿57.6
108.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 CA$2.87
$0.64 ฿21.54
217.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 CA$2.61
$0.33 ฿11.18
460.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.46 CA$6.30
$2.36 ฿78.7
88.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 CA$7.86
$3.90 ฿130
42.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moncton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.90 CA$4.09
$2.05 ฿68.6
41.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 CA$3.93
$1.40 ฿46.70
98.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.36 CA$4.75
$1.28 ฿42.89
162.50%
Eggs
$3.80 CA$5.37
$2.25 ฿75.3
68.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.99 CA$18.36
$16.94 ฿566
-23.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.14 CA$21.40
$2.74 ฿91.6
452.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.07 CA$18.48
$9.36 ฿313
39.64%
Apples (1kg)
$5.63 CA$7.95
$2.40 ฿80.3
134.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 CA$2.25
$1.01 ฿33.92
57.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 CA$6.40
$1.61 ฿53.9
181.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.75 CA$8.13
$1.52 ฿50.7
278.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 CA$2.91
$1.28 ฿42.90
60.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 CA$3.08
$1.11 ฿37.22
96.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 CA$3.53
$0.72 ฿24.09
247.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 CA$3.01
$0.52 ฿17.54
309.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.12 CA$19.96
$4.33 ฿145
226.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.21 CA$20.09
$17.73 ฿593
-19.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.20 CA$4.52
$1.63 ฿54.4
96.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 CA$5.55
$2.85 ฿95.3
37.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Moncton
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.12 CA$3.00
$0.85 ฿28.31
149.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.88 CA$69.1
$53.9 ฿1,801
-9.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.90 CA$4.10
$1.17 ฿39.18
147.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 CA$1.91
$0.57 ฿19.00
136.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.19 CA$29.96
$2.37 ฿79.2
794.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 CA$1.77
$1.45 ฿48.32
-13.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.5K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
36.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K CA$26.9K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
-28.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moncton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 CA$174
$62.3 ฿2,083
97.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.82 CA$59.1
$12.27 ฿410
240.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.3 CA$89.4
$19.97 ฿668
216.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moncton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.90 CA$70.5
$37.91 ฿1,267
31.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.02 CA$15.57
$3.76 ฿126
193.09%
Cinema Ticket
$12.47 CA$17.63
$6.71 ฿224
85.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moncton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$372 CA$526
$797 ฿26.6K
-53.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K CA$18.6K
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-11.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moncton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3 CA$85.2
$53.3 ฿1,780
13.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.74 CA$49.11
$25.05 ฿837
38.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 CA$141
$91.6 ฿3,062
8.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 CA$166
$73.5 ฿2,455
60.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moncton
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 CA$1,430
$464 ฿15.5K
117.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$804 CA$1,137
$305 ฿10.2K
163.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,623 CA$2,294
$915 ฿30.6K
77.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,321 CA$1,868
$552 ฿18.5K
139.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,168 CA$3,065
$1,912 ฿63.9K
13.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,036 CA$2,878
$1,438 ฿48.1K
41.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moncton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,405 CA$3,400
$595 ฿19.9K
304.08%
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 Moncton: 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
Moncton
$804
Chiang Mai
$305 62.1% $499
Groceries & Markets
Moncton
$422
Chiang Mai
$238 43.6% $184
Eating Out
Moncton
$269
Chiang Mai
$79 70.6% $190
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moncton
$228
Chiang Mai
$95 58.5% $133
Clothing & Footwear
Moncton
$141
Chiang Mai
$110 22.1% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Moncton
$75
Chiang Mai
$51 31.4% $23
Getting Around
Moncton
$67
Chiang Mai
$61 8.5% $5.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Moncton 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 304% higher in Moncton, 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 Moncton versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $422 vs $238 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Moncton
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
09:34 9:34 AM
19:34 7:34 PM
10 h ahead of Moncton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
80,000
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 = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Moncton Chiang Mai 12,620 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Moncton
  • 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
Moncton vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moncton or Chiang Mai?
Moncton costs about 114% 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 Moncton and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,009 per month in Moncton 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, Moncton 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 Moncton and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $372 per month in Moncton 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 Moncton or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 77% more in Moncton, 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 Moncton or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Moncton at $2,006. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moncton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Moncton or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $938 versus $2,006 in Moncton. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Moncton 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 Moncton or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moncton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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