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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $897 in Tegucigalpa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,437 in Tegucigalpa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,977 in Tegucigalpa, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Tegucigalpa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tegucigalpa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Tegucigalpa 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.8
$5.89 HNL 157
-66.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$37.29 HNL 997
-50.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$7.75 HNL 207
-3.48%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$2.30 HNL 61.4
-12.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.50
$1.02 HNL 27.22
-16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.96
$1.17 HNL 31.16
-69.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.8
$1.12 HNL 29.93
91.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$2.65 HNL 70.7
35.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$1.43 HNL 38.36
15.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$2.09 HNL 55.8
-24.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.02
$1.24 HNL 33.09
-4.03%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$2.10 HNL 56.1
-7.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿544
$6.02 HNL 161
168.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$3.74 HNL 100
-20.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
$8.13 HNL 217
34.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$2.95 HNL 78.9
-8.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.25
$1.46 HNL 39.01
-19.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$1.50 HNL 40.09
12.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$1.51 HNL 40.37
5.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$1.66 HNL 44.38
-16.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.45
$1.40 HNL 37.56
-14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.50
$0.82 HNL 21.85
-18.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.73
$1.70 HNL 45.48
-67.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$2.46 HNL 65.8
88.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$9.28 HNL 248
89.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.5
$1.33 HNL 35.60
39.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$1.84 HNL 49.12
79.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.68
$1.57 HNL 41.85
-43.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿650
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.90
$4.15 HNL 111
-67.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.98
$3.10 HNL 82.8
-56.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.18
$1.06 HNL 28.39
15.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.1K
$18.9K HNL 504.4K
13.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿757.7K
$18.9K HNL 505.2K
19.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,376
$80.8 HNL 2,159
-12.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$8.97 HNL 240
56.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿588
$40.78 HNL 1,090
-57.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,417
$36.58 HNL 978
15.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$15.53 HNL 415
-55.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$5.63 HNL 151
5.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$249 HNL 6,650
24.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,875
$46.74 HNL 1,250
19.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿878
$35.17 HNL 940
-25.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,792
$111 HNL 2,967
-25.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,369
$102 HNL 2,728
-30.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$287 HNL 7,676
50.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,035
$233 HNL 6,216
2.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$580 HNL 15.5K
41.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$460 HNL 12.3K
11.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$2,680 HNL 71.7K
-28.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.3K
$1,590 HNL 42.5K
-7.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$518 HNL 13.9K
11.78%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tegucigalpa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $287 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 12% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Tegucigalpa. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $207 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 4% 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 and in Tegucigalpa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,345 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 and in Tegucigalpa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $37.00 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 in 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 in Tegucigalpa?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $897 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 $861 versus $897 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 to 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.

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