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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $882 per month in Quilmes vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,462 per month in Quilmes vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,043 per month in Quilmes vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Quilmes costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quilmes and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Quilmes 34% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quilmes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.14 ARS 13.1K
$1.98 ฿64.3
361.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.02 ARS 42.9K
$18.80 ฿612
59.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ARS 13.2K
$7.75 ฿252
18.97%
Cappuccino
$1.70 ARS 2,425
$1.92 ฿62.5
-11.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 ARS 1,807
$0.79 ฿25.79
60.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 ARS 1,594
$0.36 ฿11.62
211.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 ARS 1,718
$2.21 ฿72.1
-45.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ARS 3,910
$3.66 ฿119
-25.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quilmes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 ARS 1,815
$1.65 ฿53.8
-23.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ARS 2,228
$1.63 ฿53.2
-4.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 ARS 2,664
$1.19 ฿38.86
57.14%
Eggs
$2.17 ARS 3,106
$2.00 ฿65.1
8.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 ARS 19.0K
$15.98 ฿520
-16.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.87 ARS 8,384
$3.03 ฿98.5
93.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.69 ARS 15.3K
$10.86 ฿354
-1.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ARS 2,593
$2.76 ฿90.0
-34.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 ARS 3,022
$1.18 ฿38.42
79.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 ARS 1,389
$1.64 ฿53.5
-40.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 ARS 3,680
$1.52 ฿49.51
69.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 ARS 1,698
$1.38 ฿45.10
-13.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ARS 1,975
$1.19 ฿38.84
15.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 ARS 1,328
$0.70 ฿22.86
32.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 ARS 2,640
$0.56 ฿18.13
230.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42 ARS 4,885
$4.58 ฿149
-25.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.20 ARS 5,999
$16.56 ฿539
-74.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 ARS 1,852
$1.83 ฿59.5
-28.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ARS 4,468
$3.20 ฿104
-2.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Quilmes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 ARS 1,185
$0.88 ฿28.56
-5.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.72 ฿610
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 ARS 3,630
$1.36 ฿44.16
86.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.93 ARS 1,334
$1.34 ฿43.65
-30.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.14 ARS 8,770
$7.84 ฿256
-21.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 ARS 1,539
$1.23 ฿39.92
-12.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K ARS 34.3M
$21.6K ฿704.3K
11.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K ARS 37.4M
$22.5K ฿734.3K
16.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quilmes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.3 ARS 79.1K
$70.5 ฿2,298
-21.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.56 ARS 26.5K
$13.68 ฿445
35.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.85 ARS 21.2K
$17.45 ฿568
-14.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quilmes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.11 ARS 37.3K
$41.33 ฿1,346
-36.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.99 ARS 20.0K
$6.96 ฿227
101.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.02 ARS 7,176
$5.77 ฿188
-13.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quilmes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$217 ARS 310.0K
$307 ฿10.0K
-29.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,094 ARS 1.6M
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-92.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quilmes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.7 ARS 86.7K
$55.8 ฿1,817
8.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.8 ARS 86.8K
$26.21 ฿854
131.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 ARS 154.8K
$85.8 ฿2,793
26.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.5 ARS 137.8K
$72.2 ฿2,353
33.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quilmes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$337 ARS 481.2K
$430 ฿14.0K
-21.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 ARS 332.5K
$239 ฿7,774
-2.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$685 ARS 978.0K
$817 ฿26.6K
-16.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$528 ARS 754.2K
$511 ฿16.6K
3.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,389 ARS 3.4M
$1,983 ฿64.6K
20.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,801 ARS 2.6M
$1,484 ฿48.3K
21.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quilmes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,103 ARS 1.6M
$619 ฿20.2K
78.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
100
5
1900.00%

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

Last update for Quilmes: June 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Quilmes versus $430 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.

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 $30.00 in Quilmes versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Quilmes vs $241 in Chiang Mai – 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
Quilmes vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Quilmes or Chiang Mai?
Quilmes costs about 1% 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 Quilmes vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,322 per month in Quilmes and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Quilmes 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 Quilmes vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Quilmes 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 Quilmes or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Quilmes – 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 Quilmes or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $882 in Quilmes and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Quilmes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $882 in Quilmes. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Quilmes 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 Quilmes or Chiang Mai?
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.

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