🙂A single person spends $741 per month in Tlaxcala vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,189 per month in Tlaxcala vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,638 per month in Tlaxcala vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Tlaxcala is about 12% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tlaxcala and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tlaxcala45% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.39MX$93.4
$1.95฿62.8
176.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.89MX$362
$18.43฿594
13.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.75MX$99.6
$7.50฿241
-23.33%
Cappuccino
$2.83MX$49.03
$1.93฿62.3
46.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27MX$21.94
$0.78฿25.08
62.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93MX$16.16
$0.32฿10.42
190.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30MX$22.53
$2.15฿69.2
-39.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80MX$31.20
$3.71฿120
-51.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67MX$28.88
$1.71฿55.2
-2.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.94MX$33.58
$1.56฿50.3
24.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41MX$24.40
$1.18฿38.06
19.49%
Eggs
$2.15MX$37.18
$1.98฿63.9
8.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87MX$119
$16.04฿517
-57.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.74MX$99.4
$3.17฿102
81.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.51MX$182
$10.94฿353
-3.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.64
$2.63฿84.7
-15.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.16MX$20.19
$1.17฿37.61
-0.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67MX$28.88
$1.65฿53.0
1.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17MX$20.29
$1.54฿49.51
-24.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89MX$15.36
$1.38฿44.34
-35.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07MX$18.58
$1.17฿37.54
-8.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81MX$14.07
$0.66฿21.25
22.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.10MX$19.08
$0.51฿16.55
115.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$72.0
$4.52฿146
-7.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.03MX$174
$18.32฿590
-45.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.66
$1.80฿57.9
-23.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54MX$26.72
$3.18฿102
-51.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43MX$7.48
$0.90฿28.97
-52.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.00฿612
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.21MX$38.25
$1.41฿45.50
56.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55MX$26.91
$1.31฿42.15
18.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.22MX$142
$8.09฿261
1.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19MX$20.70
$1.28฿41.08
-7.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KMX$440.3K
$21.3K฿686.1K
19.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$452.5K
$21.7K฿699.3K
20.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.34MX$578
$69.2฿2,230
-51.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.70MX$324
$13.97฿450
33.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.17MX$575
$17.95฿578
84.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.48MX$545
$42.31฿1,363
-25.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.15MX$367
$6.66฿214
217.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.62MX$80.1
$5.92฿191
-21.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$239MX$4,146
$299฿9,640
-20.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,536MX$61.3K
$14.8K฿478.4K
-76.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.19MX$523
$56.2฿1,810
-46.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.09MX$833
$26.94฿868
78.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110MX$1,911
$84.9฿2,735
29.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4MX$1,531
$71.8฿2,314
23.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$245MX$4,250
$435฿14.0K
-43.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155MX$2,691
$240฿7,727
-35.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483MX$8,369
$798฿25.7K
-39.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347MX$6,017
$498฿16.1K
-30.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,995฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,532฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$690MX$12.0K
$628฿20.2K
9.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.5
5
110.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tlaxcala: April 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $245 in Tlaxcala versus $435 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 Tlaxcala, 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 $21 in Tlaxcala versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Tlaxcala vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Tlaxcala 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
Tlaxcala vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tlaxcala or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Tlaxcala, 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 Tlaxcala vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,111 per month in Tlaxcala and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tlaxcala or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tlaxcala, 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 Tlaxcala vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 15% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tlaxcala or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $741 in Tlaxcala and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tlaxcala or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tlaxcala costs $741 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Tlaxcala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.