ðA single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $993 in Hermosillo, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,648 in Hermosillo, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,303 in Hermosillo, rent included.
ðChiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Hermosillo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBoth Chiang Mai and Hermosillo are more affordable than the global median â Chiang Mai37% lower, Hermosillo26% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hermosillo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95āļŋ62.8
$10.64MX$184
-81.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43āļŋ594
$41.53MX$720
-55.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50āļŋ241
$7.01MX$121
6.99%
Cappuccino
$1.93āļŋ62.3
$2.87MX$49.80
-32.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78āļŋ25.08
$1.31MX$22.71
-40.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32āļŋ10.42
$0.81MX$14.09
-60.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15āļŋ69.2
$2.60MX$45.01
-17.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71āļŋ120
$3.59MX$62.2
3.34%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hermosillo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71āļŋ55.2
$1.63MX$28.25
4.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56āļŋ50.3
$2.05MX$35.58
-23.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.06
$1.43MX$24.82
-17.48%
Eggs
$1.98āļŋ63.9
$2.22MX$38.55
-10.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04āļŋ517
$4.81MX$83.4
233.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17āļŋ102
$5.26MX$91.2
-39.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94āļŋ353
$9.47MX$164
15.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63āļŋ84.7
$1.72MX$29.85
52.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ37.61
$1.81MX$31.38
-35.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.0
$1.70MX$29.50
-2.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54āļŋ49.51
$1.61MX$27.89
-4.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38āļŋ44.34
$1.81MX$31.31
-23.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ37.54
$1.72MX$29.74
-31.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66āļŋ21.25
$1.03MX$17.82
-35.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.55
$1.45MX$25.08
-64.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52āļŋ146
$4.02MX$69.7
12.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32āļŋ590
$9.09MX$158
101.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ57.9
$1.91MX$33.13
-5.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18āļŋ102
$2.73MX$47.29
16.48%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hermosillo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90āļŋ28.97
$0.51MX$8.78
76.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00āļŋ612
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41āļŋ45.50
$1.55MX$26.90
-9.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31āļŋ42.15
$0.47MX$8.17
178.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09āļŋ261
$19.06MX$330
-57.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28āļŋ41.08
$1.31MX$22.71
-2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3Kāļŋ686.1K
$16.6KMX$288.0K
28.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7Kāļŋ699.3K
$23.0KMX$398.9K
-5.69%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hermosillo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2āļŋ2,230
$98.4MX$1,706
-29.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97āļŋ450
$23.38MX$405
-40.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95āļŋ578
$26.18MX$454
-31.44%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hermosillo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31āļŋ1,363
$40.45MX$701
4.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66āļŋ214
$16.11MX$279
-58.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92āļŋ191
$3.91MX$67.7
51.41%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hermosillo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299āļŋ9,640
$312MX$5,409
-4.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ478.4K
$5,791MX$100.4K
156.40%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hermosillo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2āļŋ1,810
$73.8MX$1,278
-23.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94āļŋ868
$35.18MX$610
-23.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9āļŋ2,735
$130MX$2,260
-34.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8āļŋ2,314
$98.6MX$1,709
-27.16%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hermosillo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435āļŋ14.0K
$410MX$7,106
6.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240āļŋ7,727
$257MX$4,453
-6.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798āļŋ25.7K
$658MX$11.4K
21.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498āļŋ16.1K
$610MX$10.6K
-18.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995āļŋ64.3K
$1,923MX$33.3K
3.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532āļŋ49.4K
$777MX$13.5K
97.23%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hermosillo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628āļŋ20.2K
$949MX$16.4K
-33.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11.5
-56.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Last update for Hermosillo: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $410 in Hermosillo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 51% higher in Hermosillo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $42 in Hermosillo. Groceries tell a different story â $244 in Chiang Mai vs $218 in Hermosillo â so Hermosillo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Hermosillo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Hermosillo?
Hermosillo costs about 18% 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 Chiang Mai vs Hermosillo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,490 in Hermosillo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Hermosillo?
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 dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Hermosillo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $42.00 in Hermosillo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Hermosillo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Hermosillo â one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Hermosillo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Hermosillo at $993. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hermosillo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Hermosillo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $993 in Hermosillo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Hermosillo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Hermosillo?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hermosillo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared