Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Mochis and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,153 in Los Mochis, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Los Mochis, Mexico
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Los Mochis
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,153
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Los Mochis 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 Los Mochis and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,153 per month in Los Mochis vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Los Mochis $1,153
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,782 per month in Los Mochis vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Los Mochis $1,782
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,411 per month in Los Mochis vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Los Mochis $2,411
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Los Mochis costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Los Mochis and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Los Mochis 15% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Los Mochis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57 MX$122
$2.24 ฿75.7
193.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.72 MX$591
$19.00 ฿642
66.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 MX$198
$5.55 ฿188
91.53%
Cappuccino
$3.30 MX$61.6
$1.67 ฿56.6
97.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MX$19.20
$0.64 ฿21.56
60.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$19.65
$0.31 ฿10.32
238.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 MX$44.31
$2.36 ฿79.6
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 MX$59.8
$3.66 ฿124
-12.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Los Mochis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.06
$1.95 ฿65.8
-22.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 MX$48.98
$1.44 ฿48.51
82.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$29.07
$1.33 ฿45.07
17.29%
Eggs
$2.68 MX$49.98
$2.28 ฿77.1
17.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.90 MX$147
$16.45 ฿556
-51.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.16 MX$152
$2.78 ฿94.0
193.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.20 MX$227
$9.31 ฿314
31.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 MX$50.2
$2.35 ฿79.5
14.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.38
$0.97 ฿32.82
79.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 MX$33.44
$1.60 ฿53.9
11.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.71 MX$31.88
$1.50 ฿50.7
14.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 MX$31.90
$1.28 ฿43.15
33.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 MX$29.66
$1.10 ฿37.22
44.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$25.76
$0.71 ฿23.84
94.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 MX$21.16
$0.49 ฿16.38
132.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61 MX$85.9
$4.14 ฿140
11.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.22 MX$190
$17.52 ฿592
-41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 MX$33.59
$1.61 ฿54.5
11.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 MX$53.3
$2.78 ฿94.0
2.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Los Mochis
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 MX$11.56
$0.87 ฿29.33
-28.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.73 MX$480
$54.1 ฿1,827
-52.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.59 MX$48.27
$1.16 ฿39.08
123.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 MX$36.43
$0.53 ฿17.82
267.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.08 MX$207
$2.42 ฿81.8
357.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$27.18
$1.45 ฿48.93
0.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K MX$443.5K
$21.1K ฿711.2K
12.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$435.6K
$26.9K ฿909.8K
-13.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Los Mochis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.9 MX$968
$62.2 ฿2,100
-16.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$423
$12.17 ฿411
86.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.71 MX$535
$20.12 ฿680
42.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Los Mochis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.72 MX$591
$37.31 ฿1,260
-14.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.64 MX$366
$3.77 ฿127
420.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.25 MX$97.8
$6.49 ฿219
-19.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Los Mochis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$214 MX$3,990
$736 ฿24.9K
-70.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,209 MX$78.5K
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-71.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Los Mochis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 MX$1,012
$53.4 ฿1,802
1.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.66 MX$758
$24.64 ฿832
65.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 MX$1,859
$91.5 ฿3,089
9.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.9 MX$1,639
$71.9 ฿2,429
22.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Los Mochis
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 MX$11.3K
$482 ฿16.3K
25.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,958
$309 ฿10.4K
38.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 MX$18.9K
$1,006 ฿34.0K
1.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$761 MX$14.2K
$633 ฿21.4K
20.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,693 MX$31.6K
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-28.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$985 MX$18.4K
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-38.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Los Mochis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$651 MX$12.1K
$590 ฿19.9K
10.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.31
5.57
103.05%

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

Last update for Los Mochis: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Los Mochis
$427
Chiang Mai
$309 27.6% $118
Groceries & Markets
Los Mochis
$262
Chiang Mai
$234 10.4% $27
Eating Out
Los Mochis
$151
Chiang Mai
$78 48.5% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Los Mochis
$127
Chiang Mai
$109 14.6% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Los Mochis
$103
Chiang Mai
$94 8.6% $8.9
Sport & Entertainment
Los Mochis
$42
Chiang Mai
$50 19.1% $8.1
Getting Around
Los Mochis
$41
Chiang Mai
$61 51.2% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Los Mochis 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 10% higher in Los Mochis, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Los Mochis versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Los Mochis
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
13:38 1:38 PM
03:38 3:38 AM
14 h ahead of Los Mochis
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
298,009
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 October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Los Mochis Chiang Mai 14,210 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Los Mochis
  • 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
Los Mochis vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Los Mochis or Chiang Mai?
Los Mochis costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Los Mochis and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,729 per month in Los Mochis 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, Los Mochis or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $607 in Los Mochis.
How do childcare costs compare in Los Mochis and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $214 per month in Los Mochis and $736 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Los Mochis or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Los Mochis, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Los Mochis or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,153 in Los Mochis 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: Los Mochis 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 $1,153 in Los Mochis. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Los Mochis or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Los Mochis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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