Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tuxtla Gutierrez Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tuxtla Gutierrez

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $911 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,520 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,130 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 5% cheaper than Tuxtla Gutierrez, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Tuxtla Gutierrez are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Tuxtla Gutierrez 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.05 MX$122

-72.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$18.74 MX$324

-0.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.98 MX$121

12.03%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.63 MX$62.7

-46.28%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.18 MX$20.38

-27.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.05 MX$18.14

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.68 MX$46.40

-20.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.99 MX$51.7

24.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.29 MX$22.27

32.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.33 MX$40.35

-30.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.61 MX$27.88

-29.19%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.34 MX$40.44

-17.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$23.92 MX$414

-32.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.93 MX$120

-54.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.78 MX$186

1.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.58 MX$44.57

6.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.14 MX$19.77

6.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.88 MX$49.81

-43.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.60 MX$27.69

-0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.52 MX$26.27

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.09 MX$36.12

-44.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.05 MX$18.09

-37.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.50 MX$8.72

6.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.04 MX$69.8

16.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$11.61 MX$201

60.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.59 MX$27.52

13.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.82 MX$48.81

14.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.55 MX$9.46

63.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$28.64 MX$495

-32.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.70 MX$46.73

-47.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$2.50 MX$43.28

-48.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.41 MX$93.5

44.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.32 MX$22.77

-3.79%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$20.9K MX$361.1K

1.93%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$22.8K MX$394.3K

-2.57%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$55.7 MX$963

24.07%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$22.05 MX$381

-36.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$25.95 MX$449

-30.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$48.43 MX$838

-15.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$13.24 MX$229

-47.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.92 MX$102

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

$299 ฿9,766

$206 MX$3,561

45.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,186 MX$37.8K

584.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$10.69 MX$185

411.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$15.78 MX$273

69.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$53.3 MX$922

59.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$42.98 MX$743

64.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$320 MX$5,542

33.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$229 MX$3,966

3.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$790 MX$13.7K

1.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$594 MX$10.3K

-13.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$532 MX$9,202

16.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

-56.52%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tuxtla Gutierrez: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $320 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. 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 16% 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 $19.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $286 – 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 Tuxtla Gutierrez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tuxtla Gutierrez costs about 5% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,366 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $206 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Tuxtla Gutierrez, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $911 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $911 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. 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, Tuxtla Gutierrez makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.