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 $957 in Necochea, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,562 in Necochea, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,167 in Necochea, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% 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 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$10.37 ARS 14.5K

-81.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$33.42 ARS 46.6K

-43.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$9.32 ARS 13.0K

-15.02%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.70 ARS 3,762

-29.26%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.64 ARS 2,292

-48.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.54 ARS 2,152

-77.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.08 ARS 2,899

6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.02 ARS 4,209

25.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.31 ARS 1,822

25.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.57 ARS 2,195

3.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.96 ARS 2,730

-39.80%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.27 ARS 3,161

-11.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.92 ARS 13.8K

60.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.34 ARS 8,844

-52.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.23 ARS 12.9K

16.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.97 ARS 2,756

32.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.08 ARS 2,908

-41.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.33 ARS 1,849

27.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.64 ARS 3,683

-40.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.18 ARS 1,640

11.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.25 ARS 1,742

-6.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.33 ARS 1,849

-49.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.49 ARS 2,078

-62.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.08 ARS 4,304

47.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$5.03 ARS 7,014

261.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.05 ARS 2,863

-10.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.13 ARS 4,364

3.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.77 ARS 1,071

15.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.51 ARS 2,108

-10.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.88 ARS 1,226

53.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$5.88 ARS 8,211

40.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.11 ARS 1,547

14.41%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$27.7K ARS 38.7M

-23.76%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$30.4K ARS 42.4M

-26.00%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$67.0 ARS 93.4K

4.78%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.25 ARS 24.1K

-20.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$22.13 ARS 30.9K

-20.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$25.90 ARS 36.1K

60.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$13.53 ARS 18.9K

-51.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.18 ARS 8,621

-6.47%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$222 ARS 310.2K

37.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,693 ARS 3.8M

450.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$72.7 ARS 101.4K

-25.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$68.7 ARS 95.9K

-61.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$114 ARS 159.6K

-26.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$114 ARS 159.2K

-39.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$338 ARS 471.7K

25.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$236 ARS 329.0K

1.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$694 ARS 968.5K

18.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$546 ARS 761.1K

-5.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,777 ARS 2.5M

15.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Necochea: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $338 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 – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $231 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 12% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,435 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 5% cheaper in Necochea – 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 $852, than in Necochea at $957. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Necochea it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $957 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.