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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,390 per month in Stephenville vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,471 per month in Stephenville vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,552 per month in Stephenville vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Stephenville costs about 176% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Stephenville sits 78% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stephenville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23 CA$23.96
$1.94 ฿63.5
788.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 CA$98.1
$18.64 ฿609
278.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 CA$15.05
$7.82 ฿255
38.49%
Cappuccino
$3.83 CA$5.33
$1.95 ฿63.8
96.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.85
$0.85 ฿27.77
141.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 CA$2.36
$0.35 ฿11.58
385.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.66 CA$7.88
$2.13 ฿69.6
165.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 CA$8.29
$3.73 ฿122
59.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stephenville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.62 CA$3.64
$1.71 ฿56.0
53.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 CA$3.63
$1.63 ฿53.2
60.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.50 CA$4.87
$1.14 ฿37.15
207.02%
Eggs
$3.56 CA$4.96
$1.93 ฿63.1
84.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.98 CA$15.26
$16.21 ฿530
-32.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.60 CA$16.13
$3.12 ฿102
271.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.45 CA$20.10
$10.90 ฿356
32.57%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 CA$5.69
$2.75 ฿90.0
48.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 CA$1.99
$1.21 ฿39.52
18.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.72 CA$5.17
$1.62 ฿53.0
129.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.83 CA$5.32
$1.59 ฿51.8
140.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 CA$3.42
$1.40 ฿45.70
75.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 CA$3.43
$1.17 ฿38.17
111.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.50 CA$6.26
$0.66 ฿21.60
581.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.45
$0.53 ฿17.22
232.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.23 CA$19.79
$4.69 ฿153
203.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.39 CA$15.85
$18.66 ฿609
-38.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 CA$4.05
$1.80 ฿58.8
61.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 CA$4.27
$3.23 ฿106
-4.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Stephenville
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 CA$3.37
$0.90 ฿29.26
168.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.5 CA$88.3
$19.21 ฿628
230.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 CA$4.37
$1.41 ฿45.91
122.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.06
$1.29 ฿42.12
14.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.21 CA$36.46
$7.84 ฿256
234.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.54
$1.27 ฿41.58
-12.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$34.5K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
16.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K CA$29.0K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
-6.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stephenville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 CA$196
$69.1 ฿2,256
103.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.50 CA$60.5
$14.08 ฿460
208.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.6 CA$85.7
$18.00 ฿588
242.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stephenville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.56 CA$57.8
$41.06 ฿1,341
1.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.59 CA$50.9
$6.96 ฿227
425.72%
Cinema Ticket
$11.52 CA$16.02
$5.92 ฿193
94.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stephenville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$748 CA$1,040
$299 ฿9,766
150.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.4K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-21.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stephenville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 CA$74.8
$54.7 ฿1,787
-1.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.80 CA$55.4
$26.77 ฿874
48.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.2 CA$118
$85.0 ฿2,776
0.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$148
$70.6 ฿2,306
50.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stephenville
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 CA$1,840
$428 ฿14.0K
208.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 CA$1,622
$237 ฿7,752
391.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,999 CA$2,780
$801 ฿26.2K
149.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,831 CA$2,546
$515 ฿16.8K
255.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,964 CA$5,512
$1,975 ฿64.5K
100.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,022 CA$5,594
$1,475 ฿48.2K
172.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stephenville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 ฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
5
29.20%

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

Last update for Stephenville: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,323 in Stephenville 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Stephenville versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 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
Stephenville vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stephenville or Chiang Mai?
Stephenville costs about 176% 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 Stephenville vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,585 per month in Stephenville and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Stephenville 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 Stephenville and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $748 per month in Stephenville and $299 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 Stephenville or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Stephenville, 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 Stephenville or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Stephenville at $2,390. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stephenville it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stephenville or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,390 in Stephenville. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Stephenville 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 Stephenville or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stephenville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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