😐A single person spends $843 per month in Xalapa, Veracruz vs $806 in Surat Thani, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,438 per month in Xalapa, Veracruz vs $1,435 in Surat Thani, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,032 per month in Xalapa, Veracruz vs $2,063 in Surat Thani, rent included.
😐Xalapa, Veracruz costs about 5% more than Surat Thani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Xalapa, Veracruz and Surat Thani are more affordable than the global median – Xalapa, Veracruz39% lower, Surat Thani41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Xalapa, Veracruz
Surat Thani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.19MX$105
$1.94฿63.9
219.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.09MX$779
$18.12฿596
154.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.17MX$121
$4.48฿147
60.04%
Cappuccino
$3.90MX$65.9
$1.52฿49.93
156.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03MX$17.49
$0.48฿15.69
114.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79MX$13.34
$0.30฿9.85
163.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31MX$39.00
$2.51฿82.6
-7.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54MX$59.9
$3.74฿123
-5.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xalapa, Veracruz
Surat Thani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37MX$23.23
$1.84฿60.6
-25.54%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38MX$40.15
$1.22฿39.99
95.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.08
$1.21฿39.67
47.11%
Eggs
$2.38MX$40.24
$1.95฿64.0
22.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.79MX$115
$19.59฿644
-65.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79MX$115
$3.53฿116
92.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.52MX$178
$7.72฿254
36.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36MX$56.9
$2.93฿96.4
14.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MX$23.45
$1.65฿54.2
-15.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.66
$1.79฿58.8
-11.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45MX$24.59
$2.20฿72.3
-34.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.74
$1.34฿44.19
49.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22MX$20.60
$1.41฿46.45
-13.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21MX$20.39
$1.15฿37.75
5.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$17.57
$0.41฿13.49
153.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.54MX$76.7
$3.04฿99.8
49.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.27MX$174
$19.08฿628
-46.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22MX$20.54
$1.57฿51.5
-22.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48MX$24.99
$1.79฿58.9
-17.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Xalapa, Veracruz
Surat Thani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61MX$10.39
$1.08฿35.58
-43.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.95MX$253
$21.27฿699
-29.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.02MX$34.08
$1.19฿39.24
69.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60MX$10.19
$0.63฿20.82
-4.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.90MX$99.8
$3.62฿119
62.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MX$25.19
$1.25฿41.17
19.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KMX$388.7K
$27.0K฿888.9K
-14.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$459.2K
$27.7K฿909.4K
-1.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xalapa, Veracruz
Surat Thani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.4MX$1,106
$76.1฿2,502
-14.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.58MX$399
$11.50฿378
105.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.80MX$419
$17.44฿573
42.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xalapa, Veracruz
Surat Thani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.90MX$421
$48.94฿1,609
-49.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.74MX$334
$14.57฿479
35.48%
Cinema Ticket
$7.07MX$120
$4.55฿150
55.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xalapa, Veracruz
Surat Thani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145MX$2,446
$574฿18.9K
-74.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.6KMX$229.7K
$11.7K฿385.0K
16.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xalapa, Veracruz
Surat Thani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.33MX$648
$65.0฿2,138
-41.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$946
$29.70฿976
88.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,950
$97.6฿3,208
18.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2MX$1,355
$88.8฿2,920
-9.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xalapa, Veracruz
Surat Thani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244MX$4,133
$241฿7,926
1.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174MX$2,945
$152฿5,002
14.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$638MX$10.8K
$1,240฿40.8K
-48.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$408MX$6,904
$715฿23.5K
-42.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,000MX$33.8K
$2,026฿66.6K
-1.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,041MX$17.6K
$1,621฿53.3K
-35.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Xalapa, Veracruz
Surat Thani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$836MX$14.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.8
5.57
75.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Xalapa, Veracruz: August 30, 2026
Last update for Surat Thani: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Xalapa, Veracruz versus $241 in Surat Thani. 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 $46.00 in Xalapa, Veracruz versus $18.00 in Surat Thani. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Xalapa, Veracruz vs $251 in Surat Thani – so Xalapa, Veracruz 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
Xalapa, Veracruz vs Surat Thani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Xalapa, Veracruz and in Surat Thani compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $843 in Xalapa, Veracruz, $806 in Surat Thani – roughly 5% apart. Xalapa, Veracruz costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Xalapa, Veracruz compared to Surat Thani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,265 per month in Xalapa, Veracruz and $1,209 in Surat Thani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Xalapa, Veracruz and Surat Thani?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Surat Thani, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Xalapa, Veracruz and Surat Thani?
Kindergarten costs $145 per month in Xalapa, Veracruz and $574 in Surat Thani. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Xalapa, Veracruz – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How far does $1,200 go in Xalapa, Veracruz compared to Surat Thani?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $843 in Xalapa, Veracruz and $806 in Surat Thani, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Xalapa, Veracruz or Surat Thani?
Families tend to lean toward Surat Thani – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Xalapa, Veracruz or Surat Thani safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Xalapa, Veracruz and Surat Thani?
If budget matters most, go with Surat Thani. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Xalapa, Veracruz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Xalapa, Veracruz vs other spots: cost of living compared