Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Necochea Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Necochea

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $964 in Necochea, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,576 in Necochea, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,189 in Necochea, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% cheaper than Necochea, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Necochea are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Necochea 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$10.62 ARS 15.9K

-80.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$33.12 ARS 49.5K

-43.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$9.24 ARS 13.8K

-14.94%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$2.77 ARS 4,140

-26.71%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$1.65 ARS 2,462

-51.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$1.50 ARS 2,248

-76.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$2.09 ARS 3,122

2.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$2.98 ARS 4,451

23.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$1.29 ARS 1,929

34.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$1.61 ARS 2,414

-2.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.97 ARS 2,941

-39.09%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$2.19 ARS 3,273

-10.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$10.13 ARS 15.2K

60.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.16 ARS 9,214

-50.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$9.25 ARS 13.8K

16.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.03 ARS 3,039

36.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$2.04 ARS 3,046

-42.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.27 ARS 1,901

34.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$2.55 ARS 3,806

-37.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$1.14 ARS 1,701

21.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$1.21 ARS 1,808

-4.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$1.32 ARS 1,966

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$1.42 ARS 2,119

-63.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.07 ARS 4,596

51.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$4.72 ARS 7,062

276.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.97 ARS 2,950

-9.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$3.07 ARS 4,587

8.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.84 ARS 1,250

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.53 ARS 2,285

-7.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.87 ARS 1,303

54.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$6.14 ARS 9,186

32.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.05 ARS 1,577

17.14%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$27.4K ARS 40.9M

-21.63%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$29.9K ARS 44.7M

-26.96%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$67.9 ARS 101.5K

5.02%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$16.86 ARS 25.2K

-16.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$22.47 ARS 33.6K

-20.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$25.89 ARS 38.7K

57.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$13.80 ARS 20.6K

-50.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.18 ARS 9,247

-7.44%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$220 ARS 329.3K

39.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$2,672 ARS 4.0M

449.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$74.6 ARS 111.5K

-25.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$69.3 ARS 103.6K

-62.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$115 ARS 172.6K

-26.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$111 ARS 166.3K

-36.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$333 ARS 497.7K

27.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$242 ARS 361.1K

0.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$673 ARS 1.0M

18.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$542 ARS 810.9K

-6.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$2,460 ARS 3.7M

-22.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$1,322 ARS 2.0M

10.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

-91.45%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Necochea: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $333 in Necochea. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Necochea. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $228 in Necochea – so Necochea 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 Necochea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Necochea costs about 13% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,445 in Necochea. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $33.00 in Necochea. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Necochea – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $964 in Necochea, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $964 in Necochea. 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, Necochea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.