Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ecatepec and Chiang Mai

For one person, living costs are similar in Ecatepec and in Chiang Mai: $941 and $936 a month, rent and utilities included.

Ecatepec, Mexico
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ecatepec
🇲🇽 Mexico
$941
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ecatepec and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ecatepec and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $941 per month in Ecatepec vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ecatepec $941
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,634 per month in Ecatepec vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ecatepec $1,634
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,327 per month in Ecatepec vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ecatepec $2,327
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Ecatepec and Chiang Mai have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Ecatepec and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ecatepec 31% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ecatepec
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.59 MX$199
$2.24 ฿75.6
372.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.51 MX$912
$19.00 ฿641
155.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 MX$181
$5.55 ฿187
73.51%
Cappuccino
$3.48 MX$65.4
$1.67 ฿56.5
108.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$29.43
$0.64 ฿21.55
145.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 MX$19.20
$0.31 ฿10.31
229.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$60.0
$2.36 ฿79.6
35.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 MX$102
$3.66 ฿124
48.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ecatepec
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 MX$33.44
$1.95 ฿65.8
-8.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.70 MX$50.7
$1.44 ฿48.48
87.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 MX$37.00
$1.33 ฿45.04
48.12%
Eggs
$2.70 MX$50.7
$2.28 ฿77.1
18.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.95 MX$168
$16.45 ฿555
-45.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$169
$2.78 ฿93.9
224.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.19 MX$248
$9.31 ฿314
41.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 MX$59.8
$2.35 ฿79.4
35.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 MX$29.85
$0.97 ฿32.80
63.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 MX$37.12
$1.60 ฿53.9
23.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.72
$1.50 ฿50.6
26.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 MX$34.02
$1.28 ฿43.12
41.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 MX$32.30
$1.10 ฿37.19
56.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$27.32
$0.71 ฿23.82
104.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$22.95
$0.49 ฿16.37
148.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 MX$85.0
$4.14 ฿140
9.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.00 MX$301
$17.52 ฿591
-8.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 MX$36.51
$1.61 ฿54.5
20.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 MX$72.1
$2.78 ฿94.0
38.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ecatepec
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MX$12.74
$0.87 ฿29.31
-21.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.56 MX$574
$54.1 ฿1,826
-43.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.92 MX$36.15
$1.16 ฿39.06
65.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 MX$9.18
$0.53 ฿17.80
-7.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.51 MX$104
$2.42 ฿81.8
127.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$26.88
$1.45 ฿48.90
-1.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K MX$400.6K
$21.1K ฿710.7K
1.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$435.5K
$26.9K ฿909.3K
-13.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ecatepec
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.3 MX$1,057
$62.2 ฿2,098
-9.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.84 MX$504
$12.17 ฿411
120.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.91 MX$449
$20.12 ฿679
18.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ecatepec
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.75 MX$484
$37.31 ฿1,259
-30.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.64 MX$200
$3.77 ฿127
182.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.48 MX$122
$6.49 ฿219
-0.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ecatepec
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$265 MX$4,983
$736 ฿24.8K
-63.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,979 MX$93.6K
$14.8K ฿498.3K
-66.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ecatepec
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2 MX$1,093
$53.4 ฿1,801
8.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.37 MX$834
$24.64 ฿831
80.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.2 MX$1,864
$91.5 ฿3,087
8.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.3 MX$1,810
$71.9 ฿2,428
33.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ecatepec
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 MX$4,492
$482 ฿16.3K
-50.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$134 MX$2,521
$309 ฿10.4K
-56.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$665 MX$12.5K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-33.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$430 MX$8,084
$633 ฿21.4K
-32.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$768 MX$14.4K
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-67.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$751 MX$14.1K
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-52.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ecatepec
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$548 MX$10.3K
$590 ฿19.9K
-7.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
5.57
103.77%

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

Last update for Ecatepec: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ecatepec
$296
Chiang Mai
$234 20.9% $62
Eating Out
Ecatepec
$193
Chiang Mai
$78 59.7% $115
Clothing & Footwear
Ecatepec
$134
Chiang Mai
$109 19% $25
Accommodation & Living
Ecatepec
$134
Chiang Mai
$309 130% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ecatepec
$107
Chiang Mai
$94 11.7% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Ecatepec
$39
Chiang Mai
$50 29.9% $12
Getting Around
Ecatepec
$38
Chiang Mai
$61 63% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Ecatepec versus $482 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 8% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Ecatepec versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $296 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Ecatepec
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
02:44 2:44 AM
15:44 3:44 PM
13 h ahead of Ecatepec
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,645,352
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ecatepec Chiang Mai 15,320 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ecatepec
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ecatepec and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,411 per month in Ecatepec and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ecatepec or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ecatepec, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $239 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do dining costs compare in Ecatepec and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Ecatepec and $19 in Chiang Mai. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Ecatepec compared to Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 44% less in Ecatepec. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Ecatepec or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $941 in Ecatepec and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ecatepec or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $941 in Ecatepec. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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