Cost of Living Comparison Between Quebec City and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Quebec City and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,992 per month in Quebec City vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,880 per month in Quebec City vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,769 per month in Quebec City vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Quebec City costs about 131% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Quebec City sits 49% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.88 CA$23.67

$1.96 ฿65.7

761.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 CA$92.2

$18.35 ฿616

258.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.44

$7.48 ฿251

47.19%

Cappuccino

$3.78 CA$5.30

$2.02 ฿67.7

87.13%

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

$2.05 CA$2.87

$0.85 ฿28.45

141.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$0.36 ฿11.94

302.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.49

$2.14 ฿71.7

182.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 CA$8.65

$3.59 ฿121

71.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CA$2.97

$1.65 ฿55.4

28.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 CA$4.56

$1.57 ฿52.6

107.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 CA$6.28

$1.19 ฿39.95

276.47%

Eggs

$3.06 CA$4.29

$1.94 ฿65.0

57.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.16

$16.19 ฿544

-20.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.90 CA$15.28

$2.99 ฿100

264.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 CA$19.84

$10.94 ฿367

29.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 CA$5.53

$2.71 ฿91.0

45.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.36

$1.17 ฿39.18

43.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 CA$5.93

$1.69 ฿56.6

150.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 CA$5.75

$1.60 ฿53.9

156.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$1.38 ฿46.45

36.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.41

$1.20 ฿40.38

102.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$0.67 ฿22.46

301.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.24

$0.56 ฿18.70

183.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.92 CA$18.12

$4.64 ฿156

178.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 CA$16.07

$17.62 ฿591

-34.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 CA$4.46

$1.86 ฿62.4

70.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 CA$5.53

$3.30 ฿111

19.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.76

$0.88 ฿29.63

204.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.4 CA$95.9

$19.34 ฿649

253.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 CA$5.31

$1.36 ฿45.82

178.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 CA$3.18

$1.34 ฿44.90

69.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.73 CA$43.08

$8.21 ฿276

274.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.69

$1.22 ฿41.11

-1.64%

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

$24.8K CA$34.8K

$21.4K ฿716.8K

16.19%

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

$20.0K CA$28.0K

$22.5K ฿756.3K

-11.26%

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

$87.5 CA$123

$70.7 ฿2,372

23.80%

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

$38.52 CA$54.0

$14.04 ฿471

174.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.83 CA$62.8

$17.49 ฿587

156.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.10 CA$59.0

$42.15 ฿1,415

-0.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 CA$20.62

$6.88 ฿231

113.81%

Cinema Ticket

$11.00 CA$15.42

$5.92 ฿199

85.81%

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

$821 CA$1,151

$309 ฿10.4K

166.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,164 CA$8,641

$14.9K ฿499.5K

-58.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 CA$84.8

$55.8 ฿1,872

8.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.9 CA$75.6

$26.11 ฿877

106.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 CA$158

$83.0 ฿2,787

36.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 CA$178

$70.5 ฿2,365

80.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 CA$1,261

$432 ฿14.5K

108.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$823 CA$1,154

$239 ฿8,020

244.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 CA$2,098

$822 ฿27.6K

81.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 CA$1,673

$512 ฿17.2K

132.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,673 CA$7,954

$1,915 ฿64.3K

196.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,809 CA$3,938

$1,467 ฿49.3K

91.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,803 CA$3,929

$579 ฿19.4K

383.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

37.40%

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

Last update for Quebec City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $900 in Quebec City versus $432 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 384% higher in Quebec City, 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 Quebec City versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 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

Quebec City vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quebec City 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,987 per month in Quebec City and $1,292 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 $821 per month in Quebec City and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 54% more in Quebec City, 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 $861, than in Quebec City at $1,992. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quebec City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,992 in Quebec City. 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, Quebec City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.