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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $853 per month in Tlaxcala vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,383 per month in Tlaxcala vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,913 per month in Tlaxcala vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tlaxcala is about 10% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tlaxcala and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tlaxcala 38% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85 MX$98.7
$2.10 ฿69.0
178.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.53 MX$431
$19.84 ฿653
28.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.13 MX$120
$5.79 ฿191
23.14%
Cappuccino
$3.20 MX$54.0
$1.83 ฿60.2
74.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.35
$0.78 ฿25.51
92.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.09
$0.31 ฿10.33
245.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.10 MX$35.43
$2.34 ฿76.9
-10.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 MX$41.52
$3.70 ฿122
-33.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 MX$30.30
$2.03 ฿66.8
-11.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 MX$36.72
$1.60 ฿52.5
35.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 MX$26.89
$1.42 ฿46.57
11.97%
Eggs
$2.37 MX$40.02
$2.18 ฿71.6
8.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.86 MX$133
$15.91 ฿523
-50.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.57 MX$111
$3.07 ฿101
114.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.67 MX$197
$9.87 ฿325
18.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 MX$42.73
$2.63 ฿86.4
-3.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 MX$21.87
$1.10 ฿36.05
17.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 MX$30.93
$1.63 ฿53.6
12.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 MX$21.99
$1.53 ฿50.4
-15.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 MX$16.81
$1.24 ฿40.97
-19.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 MX$19.40
$1.13 ฿37.22
1.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 MX$14.39
$0.74 ฿24.29
14.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$20.05
$0.50 ฿16.42
138.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.85 MX$81.9
$4.28 ฿141
13.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.18 MX$172
$17.97 ฿591
-43.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$26.63
$1.70 ฿55.9
-7.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.49
$2.90 ฿95.3
-41.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$8.79
$0.94 ฿31.00
-44.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.3 ฿1,820
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 MX$48.67
$1.23 ฿40.60
134.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 MX$32.20
$0.53 ฿17.59
260.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.05 MX$102
$2.40 ฿79.0
152.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 MX$25.27
$1.44 ฿47.37
4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K MX$429.5K
$21.2K ฿697.5K
20.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K MX$464.4K
$27.3K ฿898.6K
0.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.14 MX$610
$64.9 ฿2,137
-44.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.94 MX$354
$13.35 ฿439
56.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.94 MX$624
$20.83 ฿686
77.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.90 MX$589
$40.42 ฿1,330
-13.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.84 MX$402
$3.95 ฿130
503.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$85.6
$6.71 ฿221
-24.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 MX$4,438
$787 ฿25.9K
-66.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.1K ฿497.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.07 MX$575
$56.2 ฿1,850
-39.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 MX$884
$24.95 ฿821
109.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 MX$2,132
$92.7 ฿3,051
36.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.8 MX$1,651
$75.1 ฿2,472
30.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$274 MX$4,618
$484 ฿15.9K
-43.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$170 MX$2,873
$287 ฿9,454
-40.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$549 MX$9,273
$910 ฿29.9K
-39.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$378 MX$6,383
$531 ฿17.5K
-28.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,980 ฿65.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,451 ฿47.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tlaxcala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$715 MX$12.1K
$605 ฿19.9K
18.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.87
5.57
95.15%

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

Last update for Tlaxcala: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $274 in Tlaxcala versus $484 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 18% 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 $26.00 in Tlaxcala versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Tlaxcala vs $242 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 11% more than Tlaxcala, 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 Tlaxcala and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Tlaxcala and $1,426 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 and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 3% 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 $1,500/month in Tlaxcala or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tlaxcala, where all-in costs run around $853, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Tlaxcala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tlaxcala or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tlaxcala costs $853 versus $950 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 to 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.

Tlaxcala vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities