🙂A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $886 in Tegucigalpa, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,430 in Tegucigalpa, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,975 in Tegucigalpa, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Tegucigalpa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Tegucigalpa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Tegucigalpa34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$5.72HNL 152
-66.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$38.08HNL 1,014
-51.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$7.54HNL 201
3.71%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$2.29HNL 61.0
-14.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$0.95HNL 25.23
-10.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$1.14HNL 30.23
-69.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
$1.14HNL 30.35
86.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$2.71HNL 72.2
37.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.40HNL 37.25
22.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$2.15HNL 57.4
-24.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$1.27HNL 33.70
-10.24%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$2.11HNL 56.1
-8.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$5.97HNL 159
171.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$3.76HNL 100
-17.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$8.02HNL 213
35.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$2.90HNL 77.3
-5.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$1.47HNL 39.04
-17.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$1.44HNL 38.25
12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$1.59HNL 42.43
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$1.64HNL 43.76
-14.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$1.35HNL 35.86
-13.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$0.90HNL 23.87
-26.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$1.72HNL 45.73
-69.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$2.44HNL 65.0
92.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
$9.66HNL 257
93.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.34HNL 35.56
34.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.77HNL 47.22
82.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.26
$1.50HNL 40.08
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.91
$4.17HNL 111
-66.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$3.20HNL 85.1
-59.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$1.02HNL 27.20
24.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$19.6KHNL 520.7K
8.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$19.0KHNL 505.7K
16.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$81.8HNL 2,179
-15.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$8.89HNL 237
58.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$41.08HNL 1,094
-56.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$36.59HNL 974
12.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$15.15HNL 404
-54.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$5.73HNL 153
3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$251HNL 6,683
19.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$45.24HNL 1,205
20.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$35.93HNL 957
-25.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$107HNL 2,862
-20.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$102HNL 2,722
-30.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$278HNL 7,416
53.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$239HNL 6,353
-0.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$576HNL 15.3K
39.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$469HNL 12.5K
9.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$2,760HNL 73.5K
-28.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$1,566HNL 41.7K
-5.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$516HNL 13.7K
19.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
12
-58.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tegucigalpa: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $278 in Tegucigalpa. 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 20% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Tegucigalpa. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $208 in Tegucigalpa – so Tegucigalpa 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 Tegucigalpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Tegucigalpa?
Tegucigalpa costs about 2% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Tegucigalpa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,329 in Tegucigalpa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Tegucigalpa?
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 Tegucigalpa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Tegucigalpa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Tegucigalpa?
Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Tegucigalpa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Tegucigalpa?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $886 in Tegucigalpa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Tegucigalpa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $886 in Tegucigalpa. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Tegucigalpa?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Tegucigalpa?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tegucigalpa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared