Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Andrews and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $2,244 in Saint Andrews, rent and utilities included – about $15,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saint Andrews
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,244
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,244 per month in Saint Andrews vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Saint Andrews $2,244
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $3,223 per month in Saint Andrews vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Saint Andrews $3,223
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $4,202 per month in Saint Andrews vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Saint Andrews $4,202
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Saint Andrews costs about 143% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Saint Andrews sits 66% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Andrews
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 CA$24.97
$2.29 ฿76.5
671.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.7 CA$92.8
$19.64 ฿656
234.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 CA$14.97
$5.61 ฿188
88.77%
Cappuccino
$3.64 CA$5.14
$1.66 ฿55.6
119.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 CA$2.73
$0.70 ฿23.40
175.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$0.31 ฿10.24
400.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.20 CA$7.35
$2.41 ฿80.4
115.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.62 CA$7.95
$3.71 ฿124
51.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Andrews
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 CA$2.90
$1.95 ฿65.3
5.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 CA$3.42
$1.41 ฿47.03
71.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 CA$4.63
$1.31 ฿43.62
149.62%
Eggs
$3.41 CA$4.83
$2.18 ฿72.9
56.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.55 CA$13.50
$16.65 ฿556
-42.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.41 CA$16.13
$2.76 ฿92.2
313.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 CA$20.90
$9.11 ฿304
62.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.65 CA$5.16
$2.39 ฿80.0
52.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 CA$1.79
$1.03 ฿34.26
23.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.71 CA$5.25
$1.63 ฿54.4
127.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.67 CA$5.18
$1.50 ฿50.0
144.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 CA$3.54
$1.29 ฿43.13
93.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 CA$3.00
$1.11 ฿37.03
90.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.45 CA$3.46
$0.72 ฿24.08
240.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 CA$2.26
$0.53 ฿17.59
201.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.98 CA$19.76
$4.31 ฿144
224.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.82 CA$18.12
$17.95 ฿600
-28.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 CA$3.64
$1.58 ฿52.9
62.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.25
$2.84 ฿95.0
5.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Andrews
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.31 CA$3.27
$0.86 ฿28.86
168.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.6 CA$85.7
$53.3 ฿1,780
13.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 CA$4.00
$1.21 ฿40.29
133.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 CA$2.07
$0.57 ฿18.99
157.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.74 CA$32.15
$2.35 ฿78.6
867.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.67
$1.44 ฿47.96
-18.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K CA$39.4K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
34.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K CA$27.1K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-28.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Andrews
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 CA$186
$62.3 ฿2,083
110.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.72 CA$54.7
$12.11 ฿405
219.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4 CA$77.0
$19.94 ฿666
173.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Andrews
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.72 CA$57.6
$37.07 ฿1,239
9.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 CA$25.57
$3.78 ฿126
378.57%
Cinema Ticket
$11.25 CA$15.90
$6.50 ฿217
73.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Andrews
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$750 CA$1,061
$793 ฿26.5K
-5.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K CA$18.1K
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-13.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Andrews
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 CA$75.6
$53.7 ฿1,796
-0.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.15 CA$53.9
$24.62 ฿823
54.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.4 CA$118
$90.9 ฿3,036
-8.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 CA$143
$71.1 ฿2,378
42.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Andrews
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,261 CA$1,783
$455 ฿15.2K
176.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 CA$1,610
$298 ฿9,954
282.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 CA$2,696
$908 ฿30.4K
109.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,691 CA$2,391
$554 ฿18.5K
205.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,194 CA$5,930
$1,931 ฿64.5K
117.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,621 CA$5,119
$1,445 ฿48.3K
150.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Andrews
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$591 ฿19.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.66
5.57
-16.34%

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

Last update for Saint Andrews: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saint Andrews
$1.1K
Chiang Mai
$298 73.8% $841
Groceries & Markets
Saint Andrews
$346
Chiang Mai
$235 31.9% $110
Eating Out
Saint Andrews
$268
Chiang Mai
$79 70.7% $189
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Andrews
$225
Chiang Mai
$94 58% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Saint Andrews
$124
Chiang Mai
$108 12.9% $16
Getting Around
Saint Andrews
$80
Chiang Mai
$61 24.1% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Saint Andrews
$63
Chiang Mai
$50 20.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,261 in Saint Andrews versus $455 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Saint Andrews versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $235 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Saint Andrews
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
07:52 7:52 AM
17:52 5:52 PM
10 h ahead of Saint Andrews
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
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 20, 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 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saint Andrews Chiang Mai 12,770 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Saint Andrews
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Saint Andrews vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saint Andrews or Chiang Mai?
Saint Andrews costs about 143% 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 Saint Andrews and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,367 per month in Saint Andrews and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $750 per month in Saint Andrews and $793 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 Saint Andrews or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 47% more in Saint Andrews, 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 Saint Andrews or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Saint Andrews at $2,244. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Andrews it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Saint Andrews or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $2,244 in Saint Andrews. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Andrews makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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