Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Todos Santos and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,418 in Todos Santos, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Todos Santos, Mexico
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Todos Santos
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,418
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,418 per month in Todos Santos vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Todos Santos $1,418
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $2,111 per month in Todos Santos vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Todos Santos $2,111
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,804 per month in Todos Santos vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Todos Santos $2,804
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Todos Santos costs about 52% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Todos Santos sits 4% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Todos Santos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.71 MX$201
$2.24 ฿75.6
378.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.31 MX$793
$19.00 ฿641
122.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.69 MX$163
$5.55 ฿187
56.58%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$67.2
$1.67 ฿56.5
114.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 MX$25.22
$0.64 ฿21.53
110.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$18.57
$0.31 ฿10.30
219.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 MX$46.51
$2.36 ฿79.5
5.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 MX$75.0
$3.66 ฿124
9.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Todos Santos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 MX$29.55
$1.95 ฿65.7
-18.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.62 MX$49.09
$1.44 ฿48.45
81.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 MX$28.53
$1.33 ฿45.01
14.29%
Eggs
$2.47 MX$46.33
$2.28 ฿77.0
8.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.14 MX$171
$16.45 ฿555
-44.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.37 MX$176
$2.78 ฿93.8
237.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 MX$228
$9.31 ฿314
30.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$51.2
$2.35 ฿79.4
16.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.75
$0.97 ฿32.78
52.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.36
$1.60 ฿53.9
21.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 MX$33.06
$1.50 ฿50.6
17.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$36.99
$1.28 ฿43.10
53.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.18
$1.10 ฿37.17
70.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$27.29
$0.71 ฿23.81
105.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$20.09
$0.49 ฿16.36
118.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$78.5
$4.14 ฿140
1.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.10 MX$189
$17.52 ฿591
-42.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 MX$32.61
$1.61 ฿54.5
8.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 MX$59.4
$2.78 ฿93.9
14.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Todos Santos
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 MX$13.96
$0.87 ฿29.29
-14.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.19 MX$491
$54.1 ฿1,825
-51.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.48 MX$46.42
$1.16 ฿39.03
113.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 MX$37.23
$0.53 ฿17.79
275.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.34 MX$231
$2.42 ฿81.7
409.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 MX$23.17
$1.45 ฿48.87
-14.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K MX$420.3K
$21.1K ฿710.3K
6.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$484.9K
$26.9K ฿908.7K
-3.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Todos Santos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.3 MX$1,055
$62.2 ฿2,097
-9.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.51 MX$422
$12.17 ฿410
84.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.54 MX$535
$20.12 ฿679
41.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Todos Santos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.45 MX$646
$37.31 ฿1,259
-7.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.43 MX$383
$3.77 ฿127
441.91%
Cinema Ticket
$4.75 MX$89.1
$6.49 ฿219
-26.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Todos Santos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$193 MX$3,609
$736 ฿24.8K
-73.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,019 MX$75.3K
$14.8K ฿498.0K
-72.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Todos Santos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.93 MX$898
$53.4 ฿1,800
-10.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.84 MX$859
$24.64 ฿831
86.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.5 MX$1,696
$91.5 ฿3,086
-1.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 MX$1,892
$71.9 ฿2,426
40.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Todos Santos
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$988 MX$18.5K
$482 ฿16.3K
104.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$640 MX$12.0K
$309 ฿10.4K
107.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,866 MX$35.0K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
85.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$987 MX$18.5K
$633 ฿21.4K
55.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,144 MX$40.2K
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-9.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,181 MX$22.1K
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-25.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Todos Santos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.31
5.57
103.05%

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

Last update for Todos Santos: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Todos Santos
$640
Chiang Mai
$309 51.8% $331
Groceries & Markets
Todos Santos
$271
Chiang Mai
$234 13.7% $37
Eating Out
Todos Santos
$185
Chiang Mai
$78 58% $107
Clothing & Footwear
Todos Santos
$128
Chiang Mai
$109 15.4% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Todos Santos
$107
Chiang Mai
$94 12% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Todos Santos
$44
Chiang Mai
$50 14.4% $6.3
Getting Around
Todos Santos
$42
Chiang Mai
$61 47.6% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $988 in Todos Santos versus $482 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Todos Santos versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Todos Santos
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
14:41 2:41 PM
04:41 4:41 AM
14 h ahead of Todos Santos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,148
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 21 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Todos Santos Chiang Mai 14,350 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Todos Santos
  • 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
Todos Santos vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Todos Santos or Chiang Mai?
Todos Santos costs about 52% 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 Todos Santos and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,126 per month in Todos Santos and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Todos Santos or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $988 in Todos Santos.
How do childcare costs compare in Todos Santos and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $193 per month in Todos Santos and $736 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Todos Santos or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Todos Santos, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Todos Santos or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,418 in Todos Santos and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Todos Santos or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $936 versus $1,418 in Todos Santos. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Todos Santos compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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