Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,863 per month in Sydney, NS vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,830 per month in Sydney, NS vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,796 per month in Sydney, NS vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sydney, NS costs about 115% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Sydney, NS sits 39% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.89 CA$16.53

$1.94 ฿63.5

512.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 CA$87.1

$18.64 ฿609

236.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 CA$9.87

$7.82 ฿255

-9.21%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CA$4.15

$1.95 ฿63.8

52.82%

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

$2.20 CA$3.06

$0.85 ฿27.77

158.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 CA$2.77

$0.35 ฿11.58

468.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.61 CA$7.81

$2.13 ฿69.6

163.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 CA$8.35

$3.73 ฿122

60.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.30

$1.71 ฿56.0

38.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.74

$1.63 ฿53.2

65.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 CA$3.66

$1.14 ฿37.15

130.70%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.92

$1.93 ฿63.1

83.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 CA$9.27

$16.21 ฿530

-58.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 CA$11.56

$3.12 ฿102

166.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 CA$18.63

$10.90 ฿356

22.84%

Apples (1kg)

$7.52 CA$10.46

$2.75 ฿90.0

173.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$1.21 ฿39.52

1.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.23

$1.62 ฿53.0

132.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$1.59 ฿51.8

-8.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 CA$1.25

$1.40 ฿45.70

-35.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.69

$1.17 ฿38.17

126.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 CA$3.46

$0.66 ฿21.60

277.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.49

$0.53 ฿17.22

237.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.53 CA$25.77

$4.69 ฿153

295.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$1.80 ฿58.8

55.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.23 ฿106

34.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$0.90 ฿29.26

24.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.6 CA$70.4

$19.21 ฿628

163.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 CA$6.12

$1.41 ฿45.91

212.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.06

$1.29 ฿42.12

14.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.32 CA$35.22

$7.84 ฿256

222.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.67

$1.27 ฿41.58

-5.51%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

18.66%

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

$20.5K CA$28.5K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-7.62%

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

$91.9 CA$128

$69.1 ฿2,256

33.02%

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

$46.94 CA$65.3

$14.08 ฿460

233.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 CA$104

$18.00 ฿588

316.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 CA$70.1

$41.06 ฿1,341

22.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.64 CA$5.07

$6.96 ฿227

-47.70%

Cinema Ticket

$8.18 CA$11.38

$5.92 ฿193

38.18%

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

$748 CA$1,040

$299 ฿9,766

150.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.3K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-21.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.3 CA$101

$54.7 ฿1,787

32.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 CA$96.8

$26.77 ฿874

160.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$141

$85.0 ฿2,776

19.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$70.6 ฿2,306

53.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,100 CA$1,530

$428 ฿14.0K

156.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$814 CA$1,131

$237 ฿7,752

242.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,926 CA$2,679

$801 ฿26.2K

140.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,435 CA$1,996

$515 ฿16.8K

178.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,630 CA$3,657

$617 ฿20.2K

325.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.85

37.00%

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

Last update for Sydney, NS: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,100 in Sydney, NS 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 326% higher in Sydney, NS, 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 $63.0 in Sydney, NS versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 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

Sydney, NS vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sydney, NS costs about 115% 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 $2,795 per month in Sydney, NS 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 $748 per month in Sydney, NS 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 24% more in Sydney, NS, 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 Sydney, NS at $1,863. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney, NS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,863 in Sydney, NS. 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, Sydney, NS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.