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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,203 per month in Caracas vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,989 per month in Caracas vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,775 per month in Caracas vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Caracas costs about 39% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Caracas and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 10% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 VES 6,679

$1.94 ฿63.5

518.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 VES 30.7K

$18.64 ฿609

195.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 5,646

$7.82 ฿255

29.54%

Cappuccino

$2.61 VES 1,457

$1.95 ฿63.8

33.85%

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

$1.25 VES 699

$0.85 ฿27.77

47.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 545

$0.35 ฿11.58

180.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 855

$2.13 ฿69.6

-28.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 VES 1,708

$3.73 ฿122

-17.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 VES 1,050

$1.71 ฿56.0

9.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 VES 1,500

$1.63 ฿53.2

65.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 VES 796

$1.14 ฿37.15

25.44%

Eggs

$2.84 VES 1,585

$1.93 ฿63.1

47.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 VES 5,398

$16.21 ฿530

-40.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.66 VES 4,268

$3.12 ฿102

145.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 VES 4,290

$10.90 ฿356

-29.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 VES 2,919

$2.75 ฿90.0

90.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 VES 1,009

$1.21 ฿39.52

49.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 VES 1,229

$1.62 ฿53.0

36.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,140

$1.59 ฿51.8

28.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 VES 1,497

$1.40 ฿45.70

92.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,142

$1.17 ฿38.17

75.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 VES 747

$0.66 ฿21.60

103.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 VES 1,044

$0.53 ฿17.22

252.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 VES 2,274

$4.69 ฿153

-13.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.83 VES 6,033

$18.66 ฿609

-41.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 VES 837

$1.80 ฿58.8

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 VES 1,137

$3.23 ฿106

-36.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 VES 425

$0.90 ฿29.26

-15.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 VES 17.0K

$19.21 ฿628

58.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 VES 2,801

$1.41 ฿45.91

256.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 VES 1,485

$1.29 ฿42.12

106.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.91 VES 5,520

$7.84 ฿256

26.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 268

$1.27 ฿41.58

-62.20%

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

$25.2K VES 14.1M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

18.54%

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

$39.5K VES 22.0M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

78.01%

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

$20.26 VES 11.3K

$69.1 ฿2,256

-70.67%

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

$13.05 VES 7,271

$14.08 ฿460

-7.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.78 VES 22.2K

$18.00 ฿588

121.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.0 VES 38.4K

$41.06 ฿1,341

67.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 VES 8,446

$6.96 ฿227

117.82%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 VES 3,299

$5.92 ฿193

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

$131 VES 73.0K

$299 ฿9,766

-56.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,363 VES 3.0M

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-64.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 VES 35.7K

$54.7 ฿1,787

17.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.66 VES 22.1K

$26.77 ฿874

48.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 VES 57.8K

$85.0 ฿2,776

22.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 VES 64.1K

$70.6 ฿2,306

63.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 VES 251.1K

$428 ฿14.0K

5.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 VES 207.3K

$237 ฿7,752

56.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$979 VES 545.3K

$801 ฿26.2K

22.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$845 VES 470.8K

$515 ฿16.8K

63.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,450 VES 807.9K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-26.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$687 VES 382.7K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-53.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$289 VES 161.0K

$617 ฿20.2K

-53.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

326.60%

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

Last update for Caracas: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $451 in Caracas versus $428 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 114% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Caracas versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Caracas vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Caracas and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. 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.

Public transport costs about 59% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $131 per month in Caracas and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Caracas at $1,203. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Caracas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.