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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $945 in Lomas de Zamora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,556 in Lomas de Zamora, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,168 in Lomas de Zamora, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 8% 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 35% lower, Lomas de Zamora 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$8.91 ARS 12.8K

-78.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$29.52 ARS 42.5K

-36.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$9.24 ARS 13.3K

-15.37%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.04 ARS 2,929

-4.41%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.01 ARS 2,893

-57.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.46 ARS 2,094

-76.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$3.67 ARS 5,275

-41.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.11 ARS 5,919

-9.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.22 ARS 1,748

40.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.96 ARS 2,826

-16.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$2.04 ARS 2,939

-44.12%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.37 ARS 3,414

-18.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.93 ARS 17.2K

35.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.90 ARS 8,486

-47.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.22 ARS 13.3K

18.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.56 ARS 3,688

7.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.16 ARS 3,106

-43.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.31 ARS 1,886

23.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.62 ARS 3,772

-39.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.49 ARS 2,137

-6.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.37 ARS 1,975

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.97 ARS 1,402

-31.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.86 ARS 2,671

-71.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.16 ARS 4,548

48.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$5.98 ARS 8,609

212.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.30 ARS 1,864

38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.03 ARS 4,353

6.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.84 ARS 1,206

7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$30.47 ARS 43.8K

-36.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.65 ARS 2,368

-14.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.91 ARS 1,314

41.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.12 ARS 8,809

28.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.11 ARS 1,593

14.41%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$23.8K ARS 34.3M

-10.66%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$26.5K ARS 38.1M

-16.16%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$54.2 ARS 78.0K

27.34%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$18.47 ARS 26.6K

-23.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$14.92 ARS 21.5K

20.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$26.23 ARS 37.7K

56.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$13.89 ARS 20.0K

-49.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$9.01 ARS 13.0K

-34.30%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$295 ARS 424.6K

1.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$3,568 ARS 5.1M

319.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$61.7 ARS 88.8K

-11.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$60.4 ARS 86.9K

-55.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$108 ARS 155.5K

-21.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$94.9 ARS 136.6K

-25.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$337 ARS 485.3K

26.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$237 ARS 340.2K

0.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$691 ARS 994.5K

15.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$534 ARS 768.7K

-3.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,060 ARS 3.0M

-4.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,773 ARS 2.6M

-16.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$696 ARS 1.0M

-11.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

52.71

-90.51%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lomas de Zamora: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $337 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 13% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Lomas de Zamora. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $244 in Lomas de Zamora – so Lomas de Zamora 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

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

Lomas de Zamora costs about 9% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,418 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $295 in Lomas de Zamora. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Lomas de Zamora – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Lomas de Zamora at $945. 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 $866 versus $945 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.