Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Coatzacoalcos

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,207 in Coatzacoalcos, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Coatzacoalcos, Mexico
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Coatzacoalcos
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Coatzacoalcos

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Coatzacoalcos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,207 in Coatzacoalcos, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Coatzacoalcos $1,207

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,904 in Coatzacoalcos, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Coatzacoalcos $1,904

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,600 in Coatzacoalcos, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Coatzacoalcos $2,600

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Coatzacoalcos, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Coatzacoalcos are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Coatzacoalcos 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$11.14 MX$209
-79.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$46.72 MX$875
-59.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$8.38 MX$157
-33.77%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$3.32 MX$62.2
-49.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.53
$1.32 MX$24.77
-51.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.30
$1.11 MX$20.72
-72.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$2.44 MX$45.75
-3.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$3.52 MX$65.9
3.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.39 MX$26.06
40.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.45
$2.18 MX$40.79
-33.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.01
$1.60 MX$29.95
-16.88%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.0
$2.35 MX$44.11
-2.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$7.35 MX$138
123.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$7.28 MX$136
-61.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$12.61 MX$236
-26.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$2.84 MX$53.2
-17.25%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.78
$1.30 MX$24.30
-25.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.75 MX$32.79
-8.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.60 MX$29.91
-6.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.10
$2.15 MX$40.32
-40.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.17
$1.69 MX$31.64
-34.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.81
$1.31 MX$24.55
-45.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.36
$1.22 MX$22.78
-59.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$4.92 MX$92.2
-15.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$10.32 MX$193
69.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.99 MX$37.34
-19.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$2.72 MX$50.9
2.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.29
$0.66 MX$12.34
31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,825
$29.85 MX$559
81.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.03
$2.29 MX$42.96
-49.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.79
$1.82 MX$34.14
-70.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.7
$12.18 MX$228
-80.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.87
$1.51 MX$28.25
-3.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.3K
$24.4K MX$457.3K
-13.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿908.7K
$24.7K MX$463.7K
8.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,097
$63.2 MX$1,184
-1.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿410
$23.49 MX$440
-48.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$26.32 MX$493
-23.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$34.44 MX$645
8.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$20.78 MX$389
-81.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$5.15 MX$96.4
26.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$235 MX$4,397
213.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.0K
$3,974 MX$74.5K
271.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,800
$47.70 MX$894
11.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$45.11 MX$845
-45.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,086
$108 MX$2,028
-15.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,426
$101 MX$1,895
-28.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$578 MX$10.8K
-16.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$436 MX$8,174
-29.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,059 MX$19.8K
-4.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$785 MX$14.7K
-19.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.7K
$1,818 MX$34.1K
30.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,109 MX$20.8K
43.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11.31
-50.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Coatzacoalcos: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Coatzacoalcos
$436 41.2% $127
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Coatzacoalcos
$250 6.8% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Coatzacoalcos
$136 25.1% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Coatzacoalcos
$113 19.6% $19
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Coatzacoalcos
$183 136% $106
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Coatzacoalcos
$44 28.5% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Coatzacoalcos
$45 11% $5.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $578 in Coatzacoalcos. 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $47 in Coatzacoalcos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $250 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇲🇽 Coatzacoalcos
🕒 Local time
11:22 11:22 AM
22:22 10:22 PM
13 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
212,540
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 21 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Coatzacoalcos 15,650 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Coatzacoalcos

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

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
Chiang Mai vs Coatzacoalcos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Coatzacoalcos?
Coatzacoalcos costs about 29% 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 Chiang Mai and in Coatzacoalcos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,811 in Coatzacoalcos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Coatzacoalcos?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $578 in Coatzacoalcos.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Coatzacoalcos?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $235 in Coatzacoalcos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Coatzacoalcos?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Coatzacoalcos, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Coatzacoalcos?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,207 in Coatzacoalcos. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Coatzacoalcos?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,207 in Coatzacoalcos. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?