🙂A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,213 in Pergamino, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,938 in Pergamino, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,664 in Pergamino, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Pergamino, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Pergamino are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai33% lower, Pergamino11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Pergamino
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11฿69.1
$14.71ARS 22.0K
-85.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.75฿648
$29.76ARS 44.6K
-33.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.85฿192
$13.12ARS 19.6K
-55.41%
Cappuccino
$1.76฿57.8
$4.02ARS 6,017
-56.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.37
$1.96ARS 2,930
-62.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33฿10.90
$1.48ARS 2,222
-77.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47฿81.0
$3.87ARS 5,789
-36.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88฿127
$2.05ARS 3,071
89.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Pergamino
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90฿62.4
$1.41ARS 2,113
34.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67฿54.7
$2.52ARS 3,777
-33.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.35฿44.24
$1.50ARS 2,251
-10.00%
Eggs
$2.14฿70.2
$2.42ARS 3,624
-11.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿521
$10.45ARS 15.6K
52.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83฿92.9
$2.92ARS 4,369
-3.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.53฿345
$11.88ARS 17.8K
-11.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38฿78.2
$2.78ARS 4,168
-14.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07฿35.01
$2.07ARS 3,103
-48.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52฿49.79
$1.49ARS 2,230
2.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50฿49.30
$1.97ARS 2,953
-23.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿41.96
$1.11ARS 1,662
15.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10฿36.17
$1.12ARS 1,683
-1.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69฿22.54
$1.66ARS 2,485
-58.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.18
$1.60ARS 2,393
-69.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$4.28ARS 6,409
-0.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.78฿550
$5.40ARS 8,079
210.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66฿54.4
$1.96ARS 2,930
-15.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81฿92.3
$2.99ARS 4,474
-6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Pergamino
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.44
$0.99ARS 1,484
-9.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.9฿1,801
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20฿39.24
$1.60ARS 2,388
-25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54฿17.78
$0.79ARS 1,181
-31.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.37฿77.9
$7.95ARS 11.9K
-70.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿46.88
$1.17ARS 1,756
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K฿691.5K
$20.2KARS 30.3M
4.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K฿890.2K
$24.5KARS 36.7M
10.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Pergamino
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.7฿2,124
$80.9ARS 121.1K
-19.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.19฿433
$22.68ARS 34.0K
-41.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.44฿638
$29.73ARS 44.5K
-34.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Pergamino
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.45฿1,294
$30.75ARS 46.0K
28.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77฿124
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.62฿217
$11.67ARS 17.5K
-43.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Pergamino
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$805฿26.4K
$305ARS 456.7K
163.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K฿496.1K
$8,534ARS 12.8M
77.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Pergamino
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8฿1,796
$112ARS 167.8K
-51.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.43฿834
$96.4ARS 144.3K
-73.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9฿3,015
$125ARS 186.4K
-26.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.7฿2,449
$131ARS 195.5K
-42.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Pergamino
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$467฿15.3K
$512ARS 767.0K
-8.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$282฿9,251
$322ARS 481.9K
-12.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.2K
$1,091ARS 1.6M
-18.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.1K
$694ARS 1.0M
-24.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,985฿65.1K
$2,315ARS 3.5M
-14.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,462฿48.0K
$1,143ARS 1.7M
27.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Pergamino
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$592฿19.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
54.72
-89.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026
Last update for Pergamino: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $512 in Pergamino. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Pergamino. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $237 – 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 Pergamino: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Pergamino?
Pergamino costs about 32% 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 Pergamino?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,819 in Pergamino. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Pergamino?
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 dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Pergamino?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $30.00 in Pergamino. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Pergamino?
Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Pergamino – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Pergamino?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Pergamino at $1,213. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pergamino it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Pergamino?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $920 versus $1,213 in Pergamino. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Pergamino?
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 Pergamino?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pergamino makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared