Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cuautitlan Izcalli

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,122 in Cuautitlan Izcalli, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Cuautitlan Izcalli
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,122
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Cuautitlan Izcalli

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 Cuautitlan Izcalli actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,122 in Cuautitlan Izcalli, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Cuautitlan Izcalli $1,122

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,708 in Cuautitlan Izcalli, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Cuautitlan Izcalli $1,708

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,294 in Cuautitlan Izcalli, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Cuautitlan Izcalli $2,294

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Cuautitlan Izcalli, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Cuautitlan Izcalli are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Cuautitlan Izcalli 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.8
$10.81 MX$201
-80.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿626
$25.43 MX$473
-26.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿188
$8.06 MX$150
-30.52%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.9
$3.17 MX$59.0
-47.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.75
$1.65 MX$30.75
-60.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.25
$1.25 MX$23.31
-76.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿78.1
$2.49 MX$46.30
-6.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
$4.73 MX$88.1
-22.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.8
$1.59 MX$29.61
27.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.34
$2.75 MX$51.1
-48.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.79
$1.33 MX$24.78
4.51%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.6
$2.82 MX$52.4
-15.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿555
$2.62 MX$48.77
530.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.8
$5.28 MX$98.3
-49.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿303
$6.93 MX$129
30.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.6
$2.45 MX$45.61
-2.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿35.01
$1.59 MX$29.58
-34.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.8
$1.33 MX$24.79
24.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.4
$2.17 MX$40.41
-28.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.61
$2.01 MX$37.45
-38.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.53
$1.87 MX$34.83
-41.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.61
$1.53 MX$28.46
-50.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.29
$1.06 MX$19.73
-51.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿139
$4.22 MX$78.5
-2.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿603
$9.51 MX$177
88.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.6
$1.59 MX$29.56
1.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.9
$4.41 MX$82.0
-36.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.42
$0.76 MX$14.20
22.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,778
$29.96 MX$558
76.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.56
$0.83 MX$15.48
42.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.76
$0.49 MX$9.14
-65.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$5.58 MX$104
-67.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.51
$1.36 MX$25.33
8.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿706.4K
$21.2K MX$395.2K
-1.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿891.4K
$24.0K MX$447.3K
10.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,103
$62.4 MX$1,160
0.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿390
$26.87 MX$500
-56.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿683
$18.89 MX$351
7.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,274
$32.39 MX$603
16.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
$19.67 MX$366
-81.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿219
$4.24 MX$78.8
53.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.4K
$427 MX$7,953
70.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿557.2K
$4,583 MX$85.3K
261.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,800
$54.5 MX$1,015
-1.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿834
$26.86 MX$500
-7.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,039
$109 MX$2,034
-17.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,420
$54.4 MX$1,011
32.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.2K
$602 MX$11.2K
-20.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$426 MX$7,935
-27.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.6K
$1,029 MX$19.1K
2.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.1K
$750 MX$14.0K
-12.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.3K
$1,879 MX$35.0K
28.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿54.1K
$1,134 MX$21.1K
41.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11.35
-50.93%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Cuautitlan Izcalli: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Cuautitlan Izcalli
$426 37.6% $116
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Cuautitlan Izcalli
$217 8.1% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Cuautitlan Izcalli
$110 1.8% $2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Cuautitlan Izcalli
$108 14.4% $14
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Cuautitlan Izcalli
$182 138% $106
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Cuautitlan Izcalli
$36 38.1% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Cuautitlan Izcalli
$41 19.7% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $602 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. 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 $25 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $217 in Cuautitlan Izcalli – so Cuautitlan Izcalli wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇲🇽 Cuautitlan Izcalli
🕒 Local time
07:22 7:22 AM
18:22 6:22 PM
13 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
484,573
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.95 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Cuautitlan Izcalli 15,300 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Cuautitlan Izcalli

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 Cuautitlan Izcalli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Cuautitlan Izcalli costs about 20% 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,682 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $602 in Cuautitlan Izcalli.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $427 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Cuautitlan Izcalli – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Cuautitlan Izcalli?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,122 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,122 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

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