Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nueve de Julio Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nueve de Julio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,133 in Nueve de Julio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,902 in Nueve de Julio, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,670 in Nueve de Julio, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Nueve de Julio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Nueve de Julio are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Nueve de Julio 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$15.26 ARS 21.9K

-87.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$60.6 ARS 87.2K

-69.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$11.85 ARS 17.0K

-34.01%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.09 ARS 5,885

-52.32%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.21 ARS 3,174

-61.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.46 ARS 2,102

-76.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$3.70 ARS 5,326

-42.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.96 ARS 5,696

-5.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.03 ARS 1,485

66.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.55 ARS 3,673

-36.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$2.30 ARS 3,316

-50.43%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.23 ARS 1,768

56.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$12.06 ARS 17.3K

34.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.71 ARS 11.1K

-59.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.23 ARS 13.3K

18.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.56 ARS 3,680

7.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.04 ARS 2,936

-40.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.30 ARS 1,868

24.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.22 ARS 3,192

-28.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.48 ARS 2,135

-5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.46 ARS 2,101

-19.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.98 ARS 1,416

-32.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.99 ARS 1,418

-46.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.01 ARS 1,456

364.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$5.83 ARS 8,381

220.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.39 ARS 1,998

29.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.05 ARS 2,944

57.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.82 ARS 1,182

9.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.58 ARS 2,278

-10.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.93 ARS 1,335

38.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.97 ARS 8,590

31.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.17 ARS 1,687

8.55%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$25.0K ARS 36.0M

-14.93%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$28.8K ARS 41.5M

-23.00%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$113 ARS 162.3K

-38.78%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$21.33 ARS 30.7K

-33.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$29.32 ARS 42.2K

-38.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$26.63 ARS 38.3K

54.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$13.52 ARS 19.4K

-48.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$8.93 ARS 12.9K

-33.71%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$333 ARS 479.1K

-10.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$5,110 ARS 7.4M

192.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$108 ARS 156.0K

-49.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$86.6 ARS 124.5K

-69.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$125 ARS 179.4K

-31.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$132 ARS 189.3K

-46.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$343 ARS 493.9K

24.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$240 ARS 345.6K

-1.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$687 ARS 987.8K

16.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$543 ARS 780.9K

-5.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,062 ARS 3.0M

-4.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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 Nueve de Julio: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $343 in Nueve de Julio. 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 $61.0 in Nueve de Julio. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $240 in Nueve de Julio – so Nueve de Julio 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 Nueve de Julio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nueve de Julio costs about 31% 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 $1,699 in Nueve de Julio. 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 $61.0 in Nueve de Julio. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Nueve de Julio – 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 Nueve de Julio at $1,133. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nueve de Julio it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,133 in Nueve de Julio. 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, Nueve de Julio makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.