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 $2,157 per month in Prince George vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,302 per month in Prince George vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,447 per month in Prince George vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Prince George costs about 131% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Prince George sits 58% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.08 CA$25.28
$2.08 ฿69.3
769.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.4 CA$99.8
$19.61 ฿653
263.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.71 CA$12.18
$5.67 ฿189
53.62%
Cappuccino
$4.04 CA$5.65
$1.81 ฿60.1
123.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.11
$0.77 ฿25.58
188.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 CA$3.36
$0.35 ฿11.49
585.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 CA$8.25
$2.21 ฿73.7
166.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.28 CA$10.18
$3.79 ฿126
92.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 CA$2.77
$2.05 ฿68.2
-3.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.83 CA$3.96
$1.51 ฿50.4
87.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 CA$6.50
$1.40 ฿46.57
232.14%
Eggs
$4.32 CA$6.04
$2.26 ฿75.2
91.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.52 CA$11.92
$16.19 ฿539
-47.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.97 CA$19.54
$2.90 ฿96.4
381.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.54 CA$20.33
$9.42 ฿314
54.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 CA$5.84
$2.68 ฿89.2
55.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.76 CA$3.86
$1.09 ฿36.28
153.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.37 CA$7.51
$1.62 ฿53.8
231.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.20 CA$7.27
$1.46 ฿48.61
256.16%
Potato (1kg)
$3.09 CA$4.31
$1.28 ฿42.54
141.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 CA$3.09
$1.06 ฿35.21
108.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.08 CA$4.30
$0.72 ฿23.88
327.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.94
$0.53 ฿17.51
296.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.91 CA$20.85
$4.23 ฿141
252.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 CA$14.82
$18.29 ฿609
-42.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.41 CA$7.56
$1.63 ฿54.3
231.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90 ฿96.6
-
🚌 Getting Around
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.76 CA$2.46
$0.88 ฿29.24
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.05 CA$60.2
$53.8 ฿1,790
-19.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 CA$4.20
$1.17 ฿39.04
156.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 CA$2.40
$0.58 ฿19.25
196.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.94 CA$47.46
$2.39 ฿79.4
1320.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 CA$1.81
$1.45 ฿48.28
-11.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K CA$39.3K
$21.0K ฿699.5K
33.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$27.7K
$26.4K ฿879.7K
-24.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 CA$243
$63.7 ฿2,119
173.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.54 CA$58.1
$12.89 ฿429
222.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.3 CA$84.3
$20.52 ฿683
193.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.82 CA$61.3
$39.02 ฿1,299
12.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.73 CA$24.79
$3.92 ฿130
352.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.24 CA$12.92
$6.58 ฿219
40.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$421 CA$589
$784 ฿26.1K
-46.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.7K ฿488.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.1 CA$88.2
$55.1 ฿1,835
14.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.23 CA$54.9
$24.74 ฿824
58.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 CA$133
$94.1 ฿3,133
1.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 CA$207
$74.0 ฿2,462
100.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,011 CA$1,414
$490 ฿16.3K
106.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$873 CA$1,221
$288 ฿9,594
202.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,821 CA$2,546
$891 ฿29.7K
104.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 CA$2,464
$521 ฿17.3K
238.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,974 ฿65.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,444 ฿48.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prince George
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,104 CA$4,340
$602 ฿20.0K
415.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.96
5.57
-10.95%

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

Last update for Prince George: September 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,011 in Prince George versus $490 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 416% 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 $71.0 in Prince George versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $407 vs $241 – 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 131% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,236 per month in Prince George and $1,398 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $421 per month in Prince George and $784 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 69% 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Prince George at $2,157. 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 $932 versus $2,157 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 to 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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