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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $897 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,437 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,977 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tegucigalpa costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tegucigalpa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tegucigalpa 33% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.89 HNL 157
$1.96 ฿65.9
200.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.29 HNL 997
$18.35 ฿617
103.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 HNL 207
$7.48 ฿252
3.61%
Cappuccino
$2.30 HNL 61.4
$2.02 ฿67.8
13.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 HNL 27.21
$0.85 ฿28.52
20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 HNL 31.15
$0.36 ฿11.97
225.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.12 HNL 29.93
$2.14 ฿71.9
-47.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 HNL 70.7
$3.59 ฿121
-26.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 HNL 38.36
$1.65 ฿55.5
-13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 HNL 55.8
$1.57 ฿52.7
33.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 HNL 33.09
$1.19 ฿40.05
4.20%
Eggs
$2.10 HNL 56.1
$1.94 ฿65.1
8.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 HNL 161
$16.19 ฿545
-62.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 HNL 100
$2.99 ฿101
25.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.13 HNL 217
$10.94 ฿368
-25.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 HNL 78.9
$2.71 ฿91.2
8.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 HNL 39.01
$1.17 ฿39.27
24.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 HNL 40.09
$1.69 ฿56.8
-11.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 HNL 40.37
$1.60 ฿54.0
-5.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 HNL 44.37
$1.38 ฿46.56
20.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 HNL 37.56
$1.20 ฿40.47
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.82 HNL 21.85
$0.67 ฿22.51
22.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 HNL 45.48
$0.56 ฿18.74
203.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46 HNL 65.8
$4.64 ฿156
-46.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.28 HNL 248
$17.62 ฿593
-47.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 HNL 35.60
$1.86 ฿62.6
-28.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 HNL 49.12
$3.30 ฿111
-44.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 HNL 41.85
$0.88 ฿29.70
78.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.34 ฿651
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 HNL 111
$1.36 ฿45.92
205.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.10 HNL 82.8
$1.34 ฿45.00
131.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.21 ฿276
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 HNL 28.39
$1.22 ฿41.20
-13.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K HNL 504.4K
$21.4K ฿718.5K
-11.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K HNL 505.2K
$22.5K ฿758.1K
-16.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 HNL 2,159
$70.7 ฿2,378
14.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.97 HNL 240
$14.04 ฿472
-36.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.78 HNL 1,090
$17.49 ฿589
133.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.58 HNL 978
$42.15 ฿1,418
-13.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.53 HNL 415
$6.88 ฿231
125.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.63 HNL 151
$5.92 ฿199
-4.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$249 HNL 6,650
$309 ฿10.4K
-19.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.74 HNL 1,249
$55.8 ฿1,876
-16.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.17 HNL 940
$26.11 ฿879
34.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 HNL 2,967
$83.0 ฿2,793
33.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 HNL 2,728
$70.5 ฿2,371
44.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$287 HNL 7,676
$432 ฿14.5K
-33.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 HNL 6,216
$239 ฿8,040
-2.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$580 HNL 15.5K
$822 ฿27.7K
-29.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 HNL 12.3K
$512 ฿17.2K
-10.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,680 HNL 71.7K
$1,915 ฿64.4K
39.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,590 HNL 42.5K
$1,467 ฿49.4K
8.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$518 HNL 13.9K
$579 ฿19.5K
-10.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
5
140.00%

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

Last update for Tegucigalpa: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $287 in Tegucigalpa versus $432 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 12% 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 $37.00 in Tegucigalpa versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Tegucigalpa vs $243 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 4% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,345 per month in Tegucigalpa and $1,292 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 $37.00 in Tegucigalpa and $18.00 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 18% 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 $800/month in Tegucigalpa or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $897 in Tegucigalpa and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tegucigalpa or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $897 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.

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