Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince George and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince George and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,238 per month in Prince George vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,409 per month in Prince George vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,581 per month in Prince George vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Prince George costs about 163% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Prince George sits 67% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.19 CA$24.93
$1.96 ฿64.0
828.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0 CA$101
$18.81 ฿615
293.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.66 CA$11.86
$7.92 ฿259
9.34%
Cappuccino
$3.99 CA$5.47
$1.91 ฿62.6
108.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 CA$3.12
$0.84 ฿27.41
171.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 CA$3.19
$0.35 ฿11.51
565.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 CA$8.05
$2.21 ฿72.1
165.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.40 CA$11.51
$3.80 ฿124
121.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 CA$2.77
$1.64 ฿53.5
23.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 CA$3.22
$1.62 ฿53.1
45.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.87 CA$6.67
$1.18 ฿38.62
312.71%
Eggs
$5.12 CA$7.01
$2.01 ฿65.8
154.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.80 CA$9.32
$15.89 ฿520
-57.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.27 CA$18.18
$3.01 ฿98.5
340.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.02 CA$23.32
$10.77 ฿352
58.03%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 CA$5.93
$2.61 ฿85.5
65.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 CA$3.98
$1.22 ฿39.88
137.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.06 CA$6.94
$1.70 ฿55.7
197.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.34 CA$7.32
$1.58 ฿51.5
237.97%
Potato (1kg)
$3.12 CA$4.27
$1.32 ฿43.14
136.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 CA$4.09
$1.17 ฿38.23
154.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 CA$4.20
$0.67 ฿21.98
358.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 CA$3.92
$0.56 ฿18.32
410.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.04 CA$20.61
$4.53 ฿148
232.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.14 CA$15.27
$18.20 ฿595
-38.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.52 CA$7.56
$1.83 ฿60.0
201.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.13
$3.23 ฿106
-6.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.80 CA$3.83
$0.89 ฿29.00
214.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.91 CA$61.5
$19.38 ฿634
131.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 CA$5.69
$1.35 ฿44.20
207.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 CA$2.02
$1.35 ฿44.05
8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.79 CA$35.33
$8.25 ฿270
212.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 CA$1.73
$1.27 ฿41.64
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K CA$35.1K
$21.2K ฿691.8K
21.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K CA$30.5K
$22.5K ฿735.3K
-1.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 CA$238
$70.2 ฿2,294
147.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.44 CA$67.7
$13.77 ฿450
259.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.5 CA$84.3
$17.60 ฿575
249.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.36 CA$62.2
$41.57 ฿1,360
9.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14 CA$24.85
$6.60 ฿216
174.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27 CA$12.70
$5.78 ฿189
60.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$606 CA$831
$306 ฿10.0K
98.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.2K
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-20.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.1 CA$86.5
$54.4 ฿1,778
16.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.34 CA$55.3
$26.14 ฿855
54.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 CA$132
$84.5 ฿2,764
14.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 CA$208
$69.4 ฿2,270
118.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 CA$1,309
$424 ฿13.9K
125.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$927 CA$1,269
$238 ฿7,788
289.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,760 CA$2,412
$825 ฿27.0K
113.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 CA$2,184
$515 ฿16.8K
209.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,049 ฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,523 ฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,224 CA$4,416
$635 ฿20.8K
407.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.32
5
26.40%

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

Last update for Prince George: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Prince George versus $424 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 408% higher in Prince George, 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 $74.0 in Prince George versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $425 vs $243 – 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
Prince George vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Prince George or Chiang Mai?
Prince George costs about 163% 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 Prince George vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,357 per month in Prince George and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Prince George 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 Prince George and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $606 per month in Prince George and $306 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 Prince George or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 75% more in Prince George, 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 Prince George or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Prince George at $2,238. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Prince George it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Prince George or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,238 in Prince George. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Prince George 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 Prince George or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Prince George makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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