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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $883 in Quilmes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,462 in Quilmes, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,040 in Quilmes, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Quilmes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Quilmes are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Quilmes 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.1

$9.04 ARS 13.1K

-78.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$30.20 ARS 43.8K

-39.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$8.83 ARS 12.8K

-10.87%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.64 ARS 2,382

18.90%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.33 ARS 1,928

-36.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$1.14 ARS 1,649

-71.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.24 ARS 1,805

72.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$2.70 ARS 3,916

36.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.27 ARS 1,839

30.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$1.59 ARS 2,300

-1.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$1.81 ARS 2,624

-34.25%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$2.14 ARS 3,106

-7.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$13.24 ARS 19.2K

22.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$5.88 ARS 8,522

-46.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$10.53 ARS 15.3K

2.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$1.83 ARS 2,655

44.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$2.10 ARS 3,051

-41.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$0.94 ARS 1,360

75.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$2.70 ARS 3,923

-42.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$1.15 ARS 1,665

15.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$1.40 ARS 2,030

-13.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$0.88 ARS 1,275

-22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$1.85 ARS 2,689

-69.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$3.31 ARS 4,797

41.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

$4.40 ARS 6,381

286.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.29 ARS 1,873

41.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

$3.18 ARS 4,614

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.76 ARS 1,103

19.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

$2.53 ARS 3,671

-44.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

$0.85 ARS 1,231

57.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

$5.97 ARS 8,663

36.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$1.04 ARS 1,505

23.08%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

$24.4K ARS 35.5M

-10.72%

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

$26.4K ARS 38.2M

-15.04%

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$55.1 ARS 79.9K

27.98%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$18.42 ARS 26.7K

-23.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$14.46 ARS 21.0K

22.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$26.42 ARS 38.3K

56.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

$13.94 ARS 20.2K

-51.51%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

$5.02 ARS 7,279

18.73%

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

$303 ฿9,928

$219 ARS 317.4K

38.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

$1,065 ARS 1.5M

1304.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

$60.6 ARS 87.9K

-9.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

$60.6 ARS 87.9K

-56.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

$107 ARS 155.1K

-19.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

$94.2 ARS 136.6K

-25.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$342 ARS 496.7K

25.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$236 ARS 342.7K

1.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$688 ARS 998.0K

17.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$546 ARS 792.6K

-6.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

$2,369 ARS 3.4M

-14.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

$1,801 ARS 2.6M

-16.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

$1,107 ARS 1.6M

-43.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100

-95.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Quilmes: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $342 in Quilmes. 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 78% higher in Quilmes, 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 Quilmes. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $238 in Quilmes – so Quilmes 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 Quilmes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quilmes costs about 4% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,324 in Quilmes. 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $30.00 in Quilmes. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Quilmes – 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $883 in Quilmes, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $883 in Quilmes. 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, Quilmes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.