🙂A single person spends $987 per month in Koh Chang vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,778 per month in Koh Chang vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,569 per month in Koh Chang vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Koh Chang is about 32% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Koh Chang sits 27% below the global median, while Mexico City is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koh Chang
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65฿119
$12.98MX$223
-71.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.67฿1,194
$52.6MX$903
-30.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.73฿219
$9.43MX$162
-28.63%
Cappuccino
$2.37฿77.3
$3.57MX$61.3
-33.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.09
$1.61MX$27.55
-65.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29฿9.43
$1.15MX$19.81
-74.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96฿63.8
$3.15MX$54.0
-37.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94฿95.7
$4.86MX$83.4
-39.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koh Chang
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03฿66.1
$1.70MX$29.17
19.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.65฿53.7
$2.64MX$45.23
-37.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94฿63.3
$1.90MX$32.67
2.11%
Eggs
$2.09฿68.1
$2.54MX$43.62
-17.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.57฿572
$10.08MX$173
74.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.37฿110
$8.29MX$142
-59.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.05฿393
$11.57MX$199
4.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿94.4
$3.03MX$52.0
-4.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50฿48.92
$1.71MX$29.35
-12.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.14฿69.8
$2.05MX$35.16
4.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89฿61.6
$2.06MX$35.36
-8.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.57
$2.06MX$35.43
-32.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿43.67
$2.17MX$37.25
-38.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86฿27.98
$1.40MX$24.08
-38.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43฿14.01
$1.12MX$19.26
-61.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00฿130
$4.29MX$73.7
-6.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.30฿564
$15.41MX$265
12.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59฿51.8
$1.67MX$28.74
-4.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44฿79.6
$3.69MX$63.3
-33.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Koh Chang
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.08฿35.11
$0.38MX$6.55
184.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.06MX$327
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.53฿82.4
$1.38MX$23.70
83.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85฿27.72
$0.28MX$4.74
203.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.25฿366
$5.42MX$92.9
107.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08฿35.23
$1.28MX$21.98
-15.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K฿716.1K
$19.0KMX$325.8K
15.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K฿866.9K
$23.5KMX$402.7K
13.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Chang
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116฿3,781
$41.02MX$704
183.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.16฿429
$26.92MX$462
-51.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.69฿576
$29.69MX$510
-40.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koh Chang
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.4฿1,707
$52.3MX$898
0.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.35฿467
$26.23MX$450
-45.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.72฿251
$6.18MX$106
24.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koh Chang
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$632฿20.6K
$427MX$7,331
47.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3K฿466.1K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
33.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koh Chang
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.9฿1,788
$56.8MX$975
-3.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.24฿1,083
$44.83MX$769
-25.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107฿3,488
$105MX$1,794
2.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0฿2,571
$106MX$1,819
-25.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koh Chang
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$393฿12.8K
$995MX$17.1K
-60.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,364
$621MX$10.7K
-53.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,357฿44.2K
$2,126MX$36.5K
-36.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$986฿32.1K
$1,254MX$21.5K
-21.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,409฿78.5K
$3,903MX$67.0K
-38.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,705฿55.5K
$2,096MX$36.0K
-18.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koh Chang
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.34
-53.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koh Chang: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $393 in Koh Chang versus $995 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Koh Chang versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $288 – making Koh Chang 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
Koh Chang vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Koh Chang and Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $987 in Koh Chang, $1,447 in Mexico City – roughly 47% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Koh Chang compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,480 per month in Koh Chang and $2,171 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Koh Chang and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Koh Chang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Koh Chang or Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $987 in Koh Chang and $1,447 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Koh Chang and Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $632 per month in Koh Chang and $427 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Koh Chang, where all-in costs run around $987, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Koh Chang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Koh Chang and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $987 in Koh Chang to $1,447 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Koh Chang or Mexico City safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Koh Chang and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Koh Chang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.