😐A single person spends $964 per month in Necochea vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,576 per month in Necochea vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,189 per month in Necochea vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Necochea costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Necochea and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Necochea28% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Necochea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62ARS 15.9K
$2.04฿68.4
420.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12ARS 49.5K
$18.71฿626
77.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.24ARS 13.8K
$7.86฿263
17.56%
Cappuccino
$2.77ARS 4,140
$2.03฿67.9
36.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65ARS 2,462
$0.80฿26.71
106.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50ARS 2,248
$0.35฿11.71
328.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.09ARS 3,122
$2.14฿71.7
-2.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98ARS 4,451
$3.67฿123
-18.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Necochea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29ARS 1,929
$1.73฿57.8
-25.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61ARS 2,414
$1.57฿52.5
2.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97ARS 2,941
$1.20฿40.10
64.17%
Eggs
$2.19ARS 3,273
$1.97฿66.0
11.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.13ARS 15.2K
$16.23฿543
-37.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.16ARS 9,214
$3.06฿102
101.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.25ARS 13.8K
$10.80฿361
-14.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03ARS 3,039
$2.77฿92.6
-26.71%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04ARS 3,046
$1.17฿39.05
74.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27ARS 1,901
$1.71฿57.1
-25.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55ARS 3,806
$1.59฿53.3
60.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14ARS 1,701
$1.39฿46.63
-17.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21ARS 1,808
$1.16฿38.67
4.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32ARS 1,966
$0.66฿22.11
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42ARS 2,119
$0.52฿17.35
173.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07ARS 4,596
$4.65฿155
-33.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.72ARS 7,062
$17.78฿595
-73.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97ARS 2,950
$1.79฿59.8
10.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07ARS 4,587
$3.34฿112
-8.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Necochea
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84ARS 1,250
$0.91฿30.35
-7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿624
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53ARS 2,285
$1.41฿47.17
8.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87ARS 1,303
$1.34฿44.82
-35.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.14ARS 9,186
$8.11฿271
-24.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05ARS 1,577
$1.23฿41.27
-14.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4KARS 40.9M
$21.4K฿717.0K
27.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KARS 44.7M
$21.8K฿730.0K
36.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Necochea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.9ARS 101.5K
$71.3฿2,386
-4.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.86ARS 25.2K
$14.01฿469
20.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.47ARS 33.6K
$17.93฿600
25.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Necochea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89ARS 38.7K
$40.82฿1,365
-36.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.80ARS 20.6K
$6.88฿230
100.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18ARS 9,247
$5.72฿191
8.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Necochea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$220ARS 329.3K
$308฿10.3K
-28.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,672ARS 4.0M
$14.7K฿491.0K
-81.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Necochea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.6ARS 111.5K
$55.8฿1,865
33.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.3ARS 103.6K
$26.04฿871
166.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115ARS 172.6K
$84.8฿2,837
36.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111ARS 166.3K
$71.0฿2,375
56.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Necochea
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333ARS 497.7K
$423฿14.2K
-21.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242ARS 361.1K
$242฿8,110
-0.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673ARS 1.0M
$797฿26.7K
-15.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$542ARS 810.9K
$507฿17.0K
7.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,460ARS 3.7M
$1,918฿64.2K
28.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,322ARS 2.0M
$1,464฿49.0K
-9.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Necochea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
58.5
5
1070.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Necochea: July 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Necochea versus $423 in Chiang Mai. 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 $33.00 in Necochea versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Necochea vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Necochea 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
Necochea vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Necochea or Chiang Mai?
Necochea costs about 13% 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 Necochea and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,445 per month in Necochea and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Necochea or Chiang Mai?
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 Necochea and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Necochea and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Necochea or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Necochea – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Necochea or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $964 in Necochea and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Necochea or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $964 in Necochea. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Necochea compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Necochea or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Necochea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.