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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $983 in Lomas de Zamora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,586 in Lomas de Zamora, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,190 in Lomas de Zamora, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% 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 36% lower, Lomas de Zamora 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.9
$8.83 ARS 13.0K
-77.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$30.34 ARS 44.8K
-39.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$9.25 ARS 13.7K
-19.14%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$2.03 ARS 2,996
-0.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.52
$1.95 ARS 2,880
-56.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.97
$1.54 ARS 2,273
-76.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.9
$3.70 ARS 5,470
-42.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$3.99 ARS 5,893
-10.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$1.27 ARS 1,870
29.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$1.98 ARS 2,932
-20.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.05
$2.01 ARS 2,974
-40.80%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$2.47 ARS 3,647
-21.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿545
$12.23 ARS 18.1K
32.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$5.84 ARS 8,627
-48.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
$9.30 ARS 13.7K
17.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$2.56 ARS 3,780
5.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.27
$2.18 ARS 3,222
-46.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.8
$1.25 ARS 1,848
35.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$2.69 ARS 3,971
-40.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$1.49 ARS 2,198
-7.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.47
$1.38 ARS 2,041
-13.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.51
$1.01 ARS 1,498
-33.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.74
$1.79 ARS 2,648
-68.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$3.30 ARS 4,879
40.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$5.76 ARS 8,516
205.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.6
$1.30 ARS 1,915
43.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$3.16 ARS 4,671
4.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.70
$0.83 ARS 1,226
6.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿651
$30.41 ARS 45.0K
-36.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.92
$1.64 ARS 2,423
-17.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿45.00
$0.86 ARS 1,275
55.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$6.07 ARS 8,972
35.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.20
$1.12 ARS 1,661
8.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.5K
$24.1K ARS 35.6M
-11.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿758.1K
$25.6K ARS 37.8M
-11.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,378
$56.3 ARS 83.2K
25.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$18.31 ARS 27.1K
-23.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿589
$15.11 ARS 22.3K
15.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,418
$26.40 ARS 39.0K
59.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$13.52 ARS 20.0K
-49.11%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$8.75 ARS 12.9K
-32.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$304 ARS 448.8K
1.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.7K
$3,523 ARS 5.2M
322.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,876
$62.1 ARS 91.7K
-10.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿879
$60.9 ARS 90.0K
-57.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,793
$109 ARS 160.8K
-23.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,371
$94.8 ARS 140.1K
-25.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$343 ARS 507.5K
25.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,040
$234 ARS 345.7K
2.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$680 ARS 1.0M
20.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$535 ARS 790.8K
-4.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$2,251 ARS 3.3M
-14.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.4K
$1,544 ARS 2.3M
-4.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$708 ARS 1.0M
-18.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
52.71
-90.51%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lomas de Zamora: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $343 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 22% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Lomas de Zamora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $246 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Lomas de Zamora?
Lomas de Zamora costs about 14% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Lomas de Zamora?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,474 in Lomas de Zamora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Lomas de Zamora?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Lomas de Zamora?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $304 in Lomas de Zamora. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Lomas de Zamora?
Groceries cost about 1% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Lomas de Zamora?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $983 in Lomas de Zamora, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Lomas de Zamora?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $983 in Lomas de Zamora. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Lomas de Zamora?
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 Chiang Mai or to Lomas de Zamora?
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.

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