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 $1,187 per month in Caracas vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,010 per month in Caracas vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Caracas vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Caracas costs about 38% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Caracas and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 11% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 VES 8,913

$1.96 ฿65.7

522.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 VES 39.6K

$18.35 ฿616

195.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 7,400

$7.48 ฿251

35.43%

Cappuccino

$2.52 VES 1,842

$2.02 ฿67.7

24.75%

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

$1.32 VES 963

$0.85 ฿28.45

55.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 VES 696

$0.36 ฿11.94

163.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 1,115

$2.14 ฿71.7

-28.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 VES 2,130

$3.59 ฿121

-18.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 VES 1,359

$1.65 ฿55.4

12.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 VES 2,016

$1.57 ฿52.6

75.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 VES 1,037

$1.19 ฿39.95

19.33%

Eggs

$2.84 VES 2,078

$1.94 ฿65.0

46.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 VES 7,294

$16.19 ฿544

-38.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 VES 5,343

$2.99 ฿100

144.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.40 VES 5,406

$10.94 ฿367

-32.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.33 VES 3,895

$2.71 ฿91.0

96.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 VES 1,346

$1.17 ฿39.18

57.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 VES 1,663

$1.69 ฿56.6

34.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 VES 1,452

$1.60 ฿53.9

24.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 VES 1,976

$1.38 ฿46.45

95.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,506

$1.20 ฿40.38

71.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 VES 979

$0.67 ฿22.46

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 VES 1,437

$0.56 ฿18.70

251.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 VES 2,890

$4.64 ฿156

-14.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.20 VES 8,912

$17.62 ฿591

-30.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 VES 1,107

$1.86 ฿62.4

-18.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 VES 1,444

$3.30 ฿111

-40.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 VES 575

$0.88 ฿29.63

-10.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 VES 22.2K

$19.34 ฿649

57.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 VES 3,556

$1.36 ฿45.82

258.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 VES 1,983

$1.34 ฿44.90

102.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 VES 7,272

$8.21 ฿276

21.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 374

$1.22 ฿41.11

-58.20%

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

$24.7K VES 18.1M

$21.4K ฿716.8K

15.88%

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

$40.0K VES 29.2M

$22.5K ฿756.3K

77.34%

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

$19.82 VES 14.5K

$70.7 ฿2,372

-71.95%

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

$13.26 VES 9,687

$14.04 ฿471

-5.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.50 VES 28.9K

$17.49 ฿587

125.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 VES 49.6K

$42.15 ฿1,415

61.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.57 VES 11.4K

$6.88 ฿231

126.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 VES 4,448

$5.92 ฿199

2.87%

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

$130 VES 94.8K

$309 ฿10.4K

-57.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,392 VES 3.9M

$14.9K ฿499.5K

-63.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 VES 46.4K

$55.8 ฿1,872

13.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.35 VES 28.8K

$26.11 ฿877

50.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 VES 76.0K

$83.0 ฿2,787

25.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 VES 82.6K

$70.5 ฿2,365

60.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 VES 331.2K

$432 ฿14.5K

4.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 VES 268.3K

$239 ฿8,020

53.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 VES 717.9K

$822 ฿27.6K

19.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$840 VES 614.1K

$512 ฿17.2K

64.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,480 VES 1.1M

$1,915 ฿64.3K

-22.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$666 VES 486.6K

$1,467 ฿49.3K

-54.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 VES 224.0K

$579 ฿19.4K

-47.08%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Caracas versus $432 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 89% 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 $54.0 in Caracas versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $243 – 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 38%, 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 $1,780 per month in Caracas and $1,292 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 57% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $130 per month in Caracas and $309 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 $861, than in Caracas at $1,187. 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.