Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Irapuato

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,325 in Irapuato, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
63

Cost of Living Index in Irapuato
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Irapuato Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Irapuato

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,325

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,325 in Irapuato, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Irapuato $1,325

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,071 in Irapuato, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Irapuato $2,071

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,816 in Irapuato, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Irapuato $2,816

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Irapuato, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Irapuato are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Irapuato 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

$10.90 MX$205

-80.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿623

$47.68 MX$895

-60.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$10.38 MX$195

-46.05%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$3.87 MX$72.6

-57.11%

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

$0.65 ฿21.63

$1.59 MX$29.88

-59.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.20

$1.20 MX$22.60

-75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.7

$3.20 MX$60.0

-27.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$5.46 MX$102

-32.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$1.75 MX$32.88

15.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.08

$2.95 MX$55.3

-52.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.54

$2.02 MX$37.91

-31.19%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.2

$2.76 MX$51.8

-14.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿552

$11.31 MX$212

46.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.3

$9.72 MX$182

-72.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

$15.38 MX$289

-41.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.2

$3.21 MX$60.3

-25.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.82

$2.03 MX$38.10

-48.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.5

$1.98 MX$37.14

-16.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.1

$2.31 MX$43.34

-32.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.39

$2.04 MX$38.27

-39.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.34

$1.86 MX$34.98

-41.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.47

$1.48 MX$27.83

-48.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.19

$1.26 MX$23.70

-59.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$5.14 MX$96.5

-19.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿600

$16.07 MX$302

11.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.3

$1.97 MX$37.02

-17.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.4

$4.29 MX$80.7

-34.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.25

$0.63 MX$11.81

47.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,769

$30.39 MX$571

74.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.35

$1.85 MX$34.67

-36.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.73

$0.52 MX$9.85

-67.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.6

$5.42 MX$102

-66.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.25

$1.26 MX$23.72

16.67%

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

$21.0K ฿702.6K

$21.3K MX$400.1K

-1.38%

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

$26.5K ฿886.7K

$24.3K MX$455.9K

9.22%

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

$62.6 ฿2,092

$62.4 MX$1,171

0.34%

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

$11.60 ฿388

$26.98 MX$507

-57.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿679

$35.32 MX$663

-42.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,267

$32.21 MX$605

17.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$19.77 MX$371

-81.28%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

$6.43 MX$121

1.24%

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

$727 ฿24.3K

$428 MX$8,046

69.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿554.2K

$4,607 MX$86.5K

259.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,790

$68.3 MX$1,283

-21.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿829

$53.6 MX$1,006

-53.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,023

$106 MX$1,998

-15.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,407

$117 MX$2,195

-38.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$601 MX$11.3K

-19.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$436 MX$8,189

-28.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.4K

$1,022 MX$19.2K

3.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

$751 MX$14.1K

-12.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.8K

$1,889 MX$35.5K

27.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.8K

$1,141 MX$21.4K

40.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$356 MX$6,688

67.03%

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 Irapuato: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Irapuato

$436 32.9% 40.7% $126

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Irapuato

$324 24.4% 36.9% $87

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Irapuato

$155 11.7% 43.4% $47

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Irapuato

$125 9.4% 31.9% $30

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Irapuato

$203 15.3% 165% $126

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Irapuato

$37 2.8% 36.3% $21

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Irapuato

$45 3.4% 11.5% $5.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $601 in Irapuato. 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 67% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $48 in Irapuato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $324 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇲🇽 Irapuato

🕒 Local time

08:28 8:28 AM

19:28 7:28 PM

13 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

452,090

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 MXN = 5.32 USD

100 MXN = 4.74 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.54 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.78 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 21.08 MXN (100 MXN = 4.74 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Irapuato 15,100 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Irapuato

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 Irapuato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Irapuato costs about 42% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,988 in Irapuato. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $601 in Irapuato.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $428 in Irapuato. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Irapuato, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,325 in Irapuato. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,325 in Irapuato. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.