Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tegucigalpa and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $1,223 in Tegucigalpa, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tegucigalpa
🇭🇳 Honduras
$1,223
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tegucigalpa $1,223
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $1,787 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tegucigalpa $1,787
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $2,350 per month in Tegucigalpa vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tegucigalpa $2,350
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Tegucigalpa costs about 30% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Tegucigalpa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tegucigalpa 9% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.24 HNL 194
$2.26 ฿75.4
220.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.03 HNL 887
$19.18 ฿641
72.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.27 HNL 195
$5.59 ฿187
30.05%
Cappuccino
$2.24 HNL 60.2
$1.72 ฿57.6
30.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 HNL 28.76
$0.64 ฿21.54
67.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 HNL 27.23
$0.33 ฿11.18
206.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 HNL 29.54
$2.36 ฿78.7
-53.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 HNL 81.2
$3.90 ฿130
-22.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 HNL 38.27
$2.05 ฿68.6
-30.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 HNL 51.9
$1.40 ฿46.70
37.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 HNL 35.48
$1.28 ฿42.89
3.13%
Eggs
$1.78 HNL 47.89
$2.25 ฿75.3
-20.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.86 HNL 184
$16.94 ฿566
-59.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 HNL 153
$2.74 ฿91.6
107.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.77 HNL 236
$9.36 ฿313
-6.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 HNL 94.4
$2.40 ฿80.3
46.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 HNL 42.16
$1.01 ฿33.92
55.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 HNL 58.4
$1.61 ฿53.9
34.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 HNL 54.5
$1.52 ฿50.7
33.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 HNL 52.3
$1.28 ฿42.90
52.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 HNL 54.0
$1.11 ฿37.22
81.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 HNL 28.79
$0.72 ฿24.09
48.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 HNL 26.46
$0.52 ฿17.54
90.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91 HNL 78.1
$4.33 ฿145
-32.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.09 HNL 244
$17.73 ฿593
-48.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 HNL 41.15
$1.63 ฿54.4
-6.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 HNL 53.8
$2.85 ฿95.3
-29.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 HNL 28.74
$0.85 ฿28.31
25.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.9 ฿1,801
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.80 HNL 102
$1.17 ฿39.18
224.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 HNL 53.5
$0.57 ฿19.00
249.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.61 HNL 124
$2.37 ฿79.2
94.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 HNL 32.63
$1.45 ฿48.32
-16.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K HNL 527.3K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
-4.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K HNL 586.6K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
-17.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 HNL 3,773
$62.3 ฿2,083
125.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.90 HNL 588
$12.27 ฿410
78.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.67 HNL 931
$19.97 ฿668
73.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.54 HNL 1,008
$37.91 ฿1,267
-0.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.65 HNL 394
$3.76 ฿126
289.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.57 HNL 150
$6.71 ฿224
-16.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$223 HNL 5,985
$797 ฿26.6K
-72.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,666 HNL 179.1K
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-55.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 HNL 1,409
$53.3 ฿1,780
-1.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 HNL 1,354
$25.05 ฿837
101.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 HNL 2,780
$91.6 ฿3,062
12.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 HNL 2,874
$73.5 ฿2,455
45.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$447 HNL 12.0K
$464 ฿15.5K
-3.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$469 HNL 12.6K
$305 ฿10.2K
53.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 HNL 32.6K
$915 ฿30.6K
32.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$735 HNL 19.7K
$552 ฿18.5K
33.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,740 HNL 73.6K
$1,912 ฿63.9K
43.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 HNL 41.9K
$1,438 ฿48.1K
8.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tegucigalpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$615 HNL 16.5K
$595 ฿19.9K
3.39%
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: October 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tegucigalpa
$469
Chiang Mai
$305 35.1% $164
Groceries & Markets
Tegucigalpa
$223
Chiang Mai
$238 6.7% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tegucigalpa
$197
Chiang Mai
$95 52% $102
Clothing & Footwear
Tegucigalpa
$141
Chiang Mai
$110 22.3% $32
Eating Out
Tegucigalpa
$126
Chiang Mai
$79 37.5% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Tegucigalpa
$49
Chiang Mai
$51 5.5% $2.7
Getting Around
Tegucigalpa
$18 *
Chiang Mai
$61 240% $43

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $447 in Tegucigalpa versus $464 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 3% 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 $33.00 in Tegucigalpa versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Tegucigalpa vs $238 in Chiang Mai – so Tegucigalpa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇭🇳 Tegucigalpa
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
06:57 6:57 AM
19:57 7:57 PM
13 h ahead of Tegucigalpa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,126,534 Capital
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to HNL – Honduran Lempira Converter

Honduran Lempira exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 26.86 HNL (100 HNL = 3.72 USD). 1 EUR = 30.2 HNL (100 HNL = 3.31 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tegucigalpa Chiang Mai 16,300 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tegucigalpa
  • 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
Tegucigalpa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tegucigalpa or Chiang Mai?
Tegucigalpa costs about 30% 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 Tegucigalpa and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Tegucigalpa and $1,408 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 $33.00 in Tegucigalpa and $19.00 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 7% 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 $938, than in Tegucigalpa at $1,223. 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 $938 versus $1,223 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

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