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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,170 per month in Ecatepec vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,892 per month in Ecatepec vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,614 per month in Ecatepec vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ecatepec costs about 35% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ecatepec and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ecatepec 13% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

$1.94 ฿63.5

577.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 MX$810

$18.64 ฿609

151.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.15 MX$158

$7.82 ฿255

17.01%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.8

$1.95 ฿63.8

83.08%

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

$1.32 MX$22.87

$0.85 ฿27.77

55.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$17.92

$0.35 ฿11.58

197.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.6

$2.13 ฿69.6

37.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 MX$81.6

$3.73 ฿122

26.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 MX$23.68

$1.71 ฿56.0

-19.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 MX$47.75

$1.63 ฿53.2

69.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 MX$31.89

$1.14 ฿37.15

61.40%

Eggs

$2.52 MX$43.66

$1.93 ฿63.1

30.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 MX$141

$16.21 ฿530

-49.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 MX$146

$3.12 ฿102

170.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.78 MX$204

$10.90 ฿356

8.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MX$51.6

$2.75 ฿90.0

8.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MX$28.76

$1.21 ฿39.52

37.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.19

$1.62 ฿53.0

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.01

$1.59 ฿51.8

23.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.12

$1.40 ฿45.70

32.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 MX$38.97

$1.17 ฿38.17

92.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MX$23.94

$0.66 ฿21.60

109.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.83

$0.53 ฿17.22

105.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MX$71.7

$4.69 ฿153

-11.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.85 MX$274

$18.66 ฿609

-15.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.36

$1.80 ฿58.8

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.9

$3.23 ฿106

12.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 MX$11.27

$0.90 ฿29.26

-27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.24 MX$506

$19.21 ฿628

52.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 MX$27.90

$1.41 ฿45.91

14.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.23

$1.29 ฿42.12

-76.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

$7.84 ฿256

-30.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.72

$1.27 ฿41.58

-0.79%

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

$18.1K MX$313.0K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-14.95%

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

$21.8K MX$376.8K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-1.91%

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

$40.82 MX$706

$69.1 ฿2,256

-40.90%

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

$21.53 MX$372

$14.08 ฿460

52.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.74 MX$514

$18.00 ฿588

65.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.17 MX$435

$41.06 ฿1,341

-38.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.48 MX$181

$6.96 ฿227

50.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 MX$110

$5.92 ฿193

7.60%

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

$338 MX$5,854

$299 ฿9,766

13.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,545 MX$61.3K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-76.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 MX$1,004

$54.7 ฿1,787

6.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 MX$770

$26.77 ฿874

66.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,779

$85.0 ฿2,776

21.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 MX$1,858

$70.6 ฿2,306

52.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 MX$8,824

$428 ฿14.0K

19.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 MX$6,884

$237 ฿7,752

67.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 MX$15.9K

$801 ฿26.2K

14.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 MX$13.3K

$515 ฿16.8K

49.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 MX$14.2K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-58.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$803 MX$13.9K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-45.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 MX$10.1K

$617 ฿20.2K

-5.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

130.00%

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

Last update for Ecatepec: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $510 in Ecatepec versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 6% 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 $47.00 in Ecatepec versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $246 – 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

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

Ecatepec costs about 35% 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 $1,756 per month in Ecatepec and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. 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 $338 per month in Ecatepec and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Ecatepec, 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 $866, than in Ecatepec at $1,170. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ecatepec it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,170 in Ecatepec. 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, Ecatepec makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.