Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lomas de Zamora Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lomas de Zamora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,205 in Lomas de Zamora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,981 in Lomas de Zamora, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,756 in Lomas de Zamora, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Lomas de Zamora, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Lomas de Zamora are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Lomas de Zamora 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$9.93 ARS 15.0K

-78.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$52.3 ARS 78.8K

-62.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$11.46 ARS 17.3K

-49.48%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.41 ARS 5,137

-46.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ฿25.61

$2.15 ARS 3,236

-63.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.70 ARS 2,563

-81.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.63 ARS 5,476

-35.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$4.61 ARS 6,961

-19.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.31 ARS 1,983

54.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.98 ARS 2,981

-19.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.52 ARS 2,291

-6.58%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.78 ARS 4,197

-21.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$10.45 ARS 15.8K

52.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$10.04 ARS 15.1K

-69.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$13.85 ARS 20.9K

-28.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.75 ARS 4,143

-4.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.99 ARS 3,000

-44.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.34 ARS 2,024

21.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.10 ARS 3,171

-27.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.17 ARS 1,772

5.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.14 ARS 1,720

-0.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.36 ARS 2,044

-45.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.72 ARS 2,591

-70.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.34 ARS 5,038

28.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$5.20 ARS 7,842

245.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.71 ARS 2,579

-0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.64 ARS 3,980

9.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$1.06 ARS 1,602

-11.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$26.45 ARS 39.9K

109.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.62 ARS 2,451

-24.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.01 ARS 1,529

-47.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$7.54 ARS 11.4K

-68.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.33 ARS 2,012

8.27%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$16.5K ARS 24.9M

28.64%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$29.5K ARS 44.4M

-7.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$64.9 ฿2,145

$97.9 ARS 147.6K

-33.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.35 ฿441

$20.31 ARS 30.6K

-34.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$27.53 ARS 41.5K

-24.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$30.24 ARS 45.6K

33.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$33.74 ARS 50.9K

-88.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$8.23 ARS 12.4K

-18.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$787 ฿26.0K

$298 ARS 450.2K

163.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,437 ARS 11.2M

103.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$112 ARS 169.2K

-49.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$93.4 ARS 140.8K

-73.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$118 ARS 177.3K

-21.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$98.1 ARS 148.0K

-23.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$475 ARS 717.2K

1.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$318 ARS 479.7K

-9.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$930 ARS 1.4M

-2.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$725 ARS 1.1M

-26.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$3,018 ARS 4.6M

-34.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,506 ARS 2.3M

-3.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$743 ARS 1.1M

-18.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

56.56

-90.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Lomas de Zamora: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $475 in Lomas de Zamora. 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 23% higher in Lomas de Zamora, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $52.0 in Lomas de Zamora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $271 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Chiang Mai vs Lomas de Zamora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lomas de Zamora costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,808 in Lomas de Zamora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $298 in Lomas de Zamora. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Lomas de Zamora, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Lomas de Zamora at $1,205. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lomas de Zamora it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,205 in Lomas de Zamora. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lomas de Zamora makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.