Cost of Living Comparison Between Saguenay and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Saguenay and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,310 per month in Saguenay vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,332 per month in Saguenay vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,353 per month in Saguenay vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saguenay costs about 51% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Saguenay and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Saguenay 2% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 CA$18.34

$1.94 ฿63.5

579.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.32 CA$60.3

$18.64 ฿609

132.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 CA$15.16

$7.82 ฿255

39.39%

Cappuccino

$3.76 CA$5.23

$1.95 ฿63.8

92.82%

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

$1.59 CA$2.21

$0.85 ฿27.77

87.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$0.35 ฿11.58

262.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.49 CA$7.63

$2.13 ฿69.6

157.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 CA$6.96

$3.73 ฿122

34.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 CA$3.04

$1.71 ฿56.0

27.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 CA$4.02

$1.63 ฿53.2

77.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.20

$1.14 ฿37.15

291.23%

Eggs

$2.62 CA$3.65

$1.93 ฿63.1

35.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 CA$17.93

$16.21 ฿530

-20.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.94 CA$12.43

$3.12 ฿102

186.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.89 CA$19.32

$10.90 ฿356

27.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.60

$2.75 ฿90.0

46.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 CA$1.85

$1.21 ฿39.52

9.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.73

$1.62 ฿53.0

154.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 CA$5.49

$1.59 ฿51.8

148.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 CA$2.70

$1.40 ฿45.70

38.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 CA$2.21

$1.17 ฿38.17

35.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.67

$0.66 ฿21.60

300.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 CA$1.23

$0.53 ฿17.22

66.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.23 CA$17.01

$4.69 ฿153

160.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 CA$16.36

$18.66 ฿609

-36.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 CA$4.22

$1.80 ฿58.8

68.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 CA$2.83

$3.23 ฿106

-37.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 CA$3.75

$0.90 ฿29.26

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 CA$76.9

$19.21 ฿628

187.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.23

$1.41 ฿45.91

166.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.29 ฿42.12

57.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.36 CA$42.22

$7.84 ฿256

287.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.62

$1.27 ฿41.58

-8.66%

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

$25.0K CA$34.7K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

17.35%

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

$20.2K CA$28.1K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-8.91%

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

$87.2 CA$121

$69.1 ฿2,256

26.23%

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

$37.92 CA$52.7

$14.08 ฿460

169.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.61 CA$62.0

$18.00 ฿588

147.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.58 CA$45.31

$41.06 ฿1,341

-20.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.82 CA$19.22

$6.96 ฿227

98.56%

Cinema Ticket

$9.75 CA$13.56

$5.92 ฿193

64.70%

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

$599 CA$832

$299 ฿9,766

100.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,200 CA$8,623

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-58.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 CA$85.5

$54.7 ฿1,787

12.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 CA$72.9

$26.77 ฿874

95.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 CA$133

$85.0 ฿2,776

12.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 CA$175

$70.6 ฿2,306

78.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$609 CA$847

$428 ฿14.0K

42.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 CA$418

$237 ฿7,752

26.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 CA$1,829

$801 ฿26.2K

64.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,081 CA$1,504

$515 ฿16.8K

109.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,913 CA$8,223

$1,975 ฿64.5K

199.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,562 CA$4,954

$1,475 ฿48.2K

141.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,634 CA$3,663

$617 ฿20.2K

326.53%

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 Saguenay: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $609 in Saguenay versus $428 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 327% higher in Saguenay, 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 $43.00 in Saguenay versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $246 – 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

Saguenay vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saguenay costs about 51% 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 $1,965 per month in Saguenay and $1,300 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 $599 per month in Saguenay and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Saguenay, 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 $866, than in Saguenay at $1,310. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saguenay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,310 in Saguenay. 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, Saguenay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.