😐A single person spends $1,239 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,782 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,324 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Tegucigalpa costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tegucigalpa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tegucigalpa10% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31HNL 196
$2.08฿69.2
251.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32HNL 867
$19.64฿651
64.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.64HNL 205
$5.65฿188
35.22%
Cappuccino
$2.16HNL 57.9
$1.81฿59.9
19.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03HNL 27.71
$0.71฿23.66
45.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00HNL 26.92
$0.32฿10.48
212.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.15HNL 30.79
$2.24฿74.2
-48.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05HNL 81.7
$3.63฿121
-15.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35HNL 36.24
$1.96฿65.0
-31.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89HNL 50.6
$1.50฿49.83
26.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30HNL 34.96
$1.34฿44.32
-2.99%
Eggs
$1.73HNL 46.51
$2.26฿75.1
-23.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.70HNL 180
$16.26฿539
-58.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.68HNL 152
$2.95฿98.0
92.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.01HNL 242
$9.94฿330
-9.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58HNL 96.0
$2.57฿85.3
39.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57HNL 42.07
$1.06฿35.04
48.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12HNL 57.0
$1.61฿53.5
31.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01HNL 53.9
$1.52฿50.4
32.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85HNL 49.52
$1.27฿42.14
45.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98HNL 53.2
$1.07฿35.37
85.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07HNL 28.82
$0.72฿23.89
48.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01HNL 27.16
$0.51฿16.87
98.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90HNL 77.9
$4.19฿139
-30.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.55HNL 256
$17.87฿593
-46.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48HNL 39.62
$1.69฿56.2
-12.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99HNL 53.4
$2.84฿94.1
-29.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07HNL 28.68
$0.93฿30.70
15.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,787
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.74HNL 100
$1.23฿40.95
204.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96HNL 52.7
$0.58฿19.13
237.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.61HNL 124
$2.42฿80.4
90.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15HNL 30.77
$1.41฿46.84
-18.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5KHNL 523.9K
$21.4K฿711.3K
-8.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KHNL 592.9K
$27.3K฿906.7K
-19.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143HNL 3,825
$63.7฿2,112
123.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68HNL 609
$12.85฿426
76.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.08HNL 914
$20.22฿671
68.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.14HNL 996
$38.74฿1,285
-4.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.61HNL 392
$3.97฿132
268.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.71HNL 153
$6.74฿223
-15.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$221HNL 5,920
$778฿25.8K
-71.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,567HNL 176.2K
$14.6K฿484.6K
-55.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9HNL 1,418
$54.3฿1,801
-2.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.79HNL 1,309
$25.45฿844
91.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103HNL 2,772
$94.3฿3,129
9.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108HNL 2,908
$73.4฿2,436
47.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$446HNL 12.0K
$490฿16.2K
-8.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474HNL 12.7K
$289฿9,596
63.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,204HNL 32.3K
$894฿29.6K
34.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$746HNL 20.0K
$517฿17.1K
44.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,781HNL 74.6K
$1,955฿64.9K
42.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,552HNL 41.6K
$1,477฿49.0K
5.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$606HNL 16.3K
$602฿20.0K
0.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.38
5.57
104.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tegucigalpa: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Tegucigalpa versus $490 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 1% higher in Tegucigalpa, 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 $32.00 in Tegucigalpa versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Tegucigalpa vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Tegucigalpa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Tegucigalpa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tegucigalpa or Chiang Mai?
Tegucigalpa costs about 31% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tegucigalpa and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,859 per month in Tegucigalpa and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tegucigalpa or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Tegucigalpa and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Tegucigalpa and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tegucigalpa or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Tegucigalpa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tegucigalpa or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Tegucigalpa at $1,239. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tegucigalpa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tegucigalpa or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,239 in Tegucigalpa. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tegucigalpa compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Tegucigalpa or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tegucigalpa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Tegucigalpa vs other spots: cost of living compared