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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $948 in Ushuaia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,569 in Ushuaia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,189 in Ushuaia, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Ushuaia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ushuaia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ushuaia 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$10.68 ARS 14.9K

-81.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$33.62 ARS 46.9K

-44.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$9.22 ARS 12.9K

-14.10%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.68 ARS 3,736

-28.73%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.72 ARS 2,406

-51.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.54 ARS 2,150

-77.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.14 ARS 2,988

3.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.94 ARS 4,103

29.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.30 ARS 1,807

26.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.59 ARS 2,212

1.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.03 ARS 2,830

-41.87%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.28 ARS 3,184

-11.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.30 ARS 14.4K

54.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.34 ARS 8,844

-52.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.12 ARS 12.7K

18.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.01 ARS 2,809

29.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.06 ARS 2,876

-40.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.31 ARS 1,824

29.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.65 ARS 3,691

-40.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.19 ARS 1,662

10.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.24 ARS 1,727

-5.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.32 ARS 1,839

-49.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.44 ARS 2,006

-61.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.18 ARS 4,435

42.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$4.93 ARS 6,886

269.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.08 ARS 2,898

-12.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.09 ARS 4,308

4.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.81 ARS 1,133

9.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.49 ARS 2,079

-9.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.86 ARS 1,206

56.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$6.07 ARS 8,467

35.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.09 ARS 1,524

16.51%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$27.4K ARS 38.2M

-22.70%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$30.6K ARS 42.6M

-26.40%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$67.7 ARS 94.5K

3.57%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.41 ARS 24.3K

-20.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$22.47 ARS 31.3K

-21.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$26.40 ARS 36.8K

57.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$13.71 ARS 19.1K

-51.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.05 ARS 8,447

-4.46%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$224 ARS 312.8K

36.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,666 ARS 3.7M

456.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$72.5 ARS 101.2K

-25.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$70.4 ARS 98.2K

-62.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$116 ARS 161.5K

-26.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$113 ARS 157.5K

-38.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$341 ARS 476.4K

24.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$241 ARS 335.7K

-1.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$685 ARS 955.4K

20.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$538 ARS 750.8K

-4.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,864 ARS 2.6M

9.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,567 ARS 2.2M

-2.80%

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 Ushuaia: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $341 in Ushuaia. 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 $34.00 in Ushuaia. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $232 in Ushuaia – so Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ushuaia costs about 11% 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 $1,422 in Ushuaia. 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 $34.00 in Ushuaia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Ushuaia – 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 $948 in Ushuaia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $948 in Ushuaia. 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, Ushuaia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.