Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Roatan Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Roatan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $872 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,213 in Roatan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,337 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,999 in Roatan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,786 in Roatan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 28% cheaper than Roatan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Roatan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Roatan 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.5

$7.66 HNL 204

-73.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿584

$40.15 HNL 1,066

-54.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿245

$8.93 HNL 237

-14.33%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.5

$3.77 HNL 100

-49.07%

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

$0.84 ฿26.97

$1.20 HNL 31.91

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.42

$0.75 HNL 19.91

-52.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.2

$2.29 HNL 60.9

-4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$3.94 HNL 105

-3.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.5

$1.31 HNL 34.71

25.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.0

$3.38 HNL 89.8

-52.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.98

$2.24 HNL 59.5

-48.66%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.2

$1.98 HNL 52.6

-2.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿511

$10.91 HNL 290

46.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.5

$6.63 HNL 176

-53.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿355

$17.91 HNL 476

-38.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.80

$1.08 HNL 28.56

9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.7

$1.08 HNL 28.63

58.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.5

$0.57 HNL 15.08

182.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.66

$1.08 HNL 28.62

28.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.81

$1.11 HNL 29.61

3.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.83

$0.99 HNL 26.24

-28.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.65

$2.95 HNL 78.3

-81.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$2.95 HNL 78.3

54.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿605

$7.60 HNL 202

148.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$3.94 HNL 105

-18.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿606

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.30

$1.97 HNL 52.4

-28.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿263

$9.86 HNL 262

-16.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.29

$1.06 HNL 28.13

16.04%

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

$21.2K ฿678.9K

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

$22.3K ฿715.3K

$30.5K HNL 810.6K

-26.90%

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

$69.9 ฿2,240

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

$14.07 ฿451

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿567

$102 HNL 2,703

-82.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,328

$60.9 HNL 1,618

-32.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

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

$299 ฿9,593

$422 HNL 11.2K

-29.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿481.2K

$4,274 HNL 113.5K

251.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,758

$40.69 HNL 1,081

34.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿845

$20.38 HNL 541

29.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,714

$40.69 HNL 1,081

108.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,236

$49.22 HNL 1,307

41.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$838 HNL 22.3K

-49.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,718

$542 HNL 14.4K

-55.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.0K

$729 HNL 19.4K

11.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.0K

$1,226 HNL 32.6K

-59.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.8K

$1,910 HNL 50.7K

5.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.9K

$1,336 HNL 35.5K

14.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.5K

$507 HNL 13.5K

26.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-72.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Roatan: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $427 in Chiang Mai versus $838 in Roatan. 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 26% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $40 in Roatan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $265 – 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

Chiang Mai vs Roatan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Roatan costs about 39% 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 $1,308 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,819 in Roatan. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $40.00 in Roatan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Roatan, 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 $872, than in Roatan at $1,213. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roatan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $872 versus $1,213 in Roatan. 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, Roatan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.