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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 2.8% more expensive than Tulum without rent, and 19.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 3.4% cheaper than Tulum without rent, and 35.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tulum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$10.59 MX$190
-80.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$50.5 MX$903
-63.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$8.05 MX$144
-7.08%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$3.65 MX$65.3
-45.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$1.18 MX$21.06
-27.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$1.06 MX$18.96
-66.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$2.73 MX$48.93
-19.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$3.96 MX$70.9
-5.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tulum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.44 MX$25.82
19.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$1.14 MX$20.37
42.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.48 MX$26.58
-21.62%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$2.01 MX$35.90
-1.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$5.45 MX$97.5
192.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$7.13 MX$128
-55.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$6.25 MX$112
74.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$2.06 MX$36.88
28.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.39 MX$24.97
-12.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$1.41 MX$25.22
20.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$1.41 MX$25.22
12.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$2.09 MX$37.47
-36.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$1.88 MX$33.70
-37.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$1.07 MX$19.23
-36.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.98 MX$17.53
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$4.08 MX$73.0
10.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$8.50 MX$152
124.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.32 MX$23.54
34.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$1.25 MX$22.39
154.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tulum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$1.12 MX$20.04
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$2.14 MX$38.35
-36.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$2.16 MX$38.62
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$5.32 MX$95.2
50.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$1.33 MX$23.77
-6.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$15.8K MX$283.1K
33.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$21.4K MX$382.2K
1.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tulum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$85.6 MX$1,532
-16.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$22.36 MX$400
-36.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$29.22 MX$523
-40.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tulum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$33.34 MX$597
26.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
$15.84 MX$284
-56.57%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$4.65 MX$83.2
27.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tulum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$205 MX$3,676
49.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$2,829 MX$50.6K
423.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tulum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$26.18 MX$469
112.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$31.81 MX$569
-15.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$80.1 MX$1,433
3.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$46.35 MX$830
51.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tulum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$725 MX$13.0K
-41.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$395 MX$7,070
-39.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$1,444 MX$25.9K
-44.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$1,244 MX$22.3K
-59.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
$3,331 MX$59.6K
-38.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
$1,876 MX$33.6K
-18.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tulum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
$791 MX$14.2K
-17.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
11
-54.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Tulum: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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