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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $888 in Quilmes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,488 in Quilmes, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,087 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 ฿64.0

$8.94 ARS 12.5K

-78.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$30.28 ARS 42.2K

-37.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$9.14 ARS 12.8K

-13.35%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.70 ARS 2,377

12.35%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.27 ARS 1,774

-33.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.18 ARS 1,642

-70.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.25 ARS 1,747

76.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.70 ARS 3,774

40.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.26 ARS 1,763

30.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.59 ARS 2,216

1.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.83 ARS 2,556

-35.52%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.15 ARS 2,999

-6.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$12.98 ARS 18.1K

22.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.01 ARS 8,382

-49.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$10.29 ARS 14.4K

4.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.83 ARS 2,547

42.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.19 ARS 3,054

-44.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.99 ARS 1,377

71.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.64 ARS 3,681

-40.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.14 ARS 1,585

15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.39 ARS 1,938

-15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.87 ARS 1,212

-22.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.87 ARS 2,614

-70.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.32 ARS 4,629

36.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$5.12 ARS 7,140

255.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.30 ARS 1,819

40.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.02 ARS 4,213

6.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.83 ARS 1,155

7.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.55 ARS 3,557

-47.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.92 ARS 1,285

46.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$5.86 ARS 8,179

40.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.06 ARS 1,482

19.81%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$24.1K ARS 33.7M

-12.34%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$26.3K ARS 36.7M

-14.49%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$56.0 ARS 78.1K

25.29%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$18.84 ARS 26.3K

-26.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$14.86 ARS 20.7K

18.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$26.35 ARS 36.8K

57.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$13.75 ARS 19.2K

-52.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.96 ARS 6,919

16.53%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$221 ARS 307.9K

38.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,096 ARS 1.5M

1252.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$61.1 ARS 85.3K

-11.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$58.9 ARS 82.1K

-55.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$109 ARS 152.7K

-22.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$95.7 ARS 133.5K

-27.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$344 ARS 480.2K

23.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$237 ARS 330.2K

0.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$681 ARS 950.8K

21.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$541 ARS 755.3K

-4.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,314 ARS 3.2M

-11.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,764 ARS 2.5M

-13.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,106 ARS 1.5M

-42.57%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Quilmes: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $344 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 74% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Quilmes. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $239 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,332 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 $19.00 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $888 in Quilmes, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $888 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.