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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $707 in Acarigua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,238 in Acarigua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,769 in Acarigua.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 23% more expensive than Acarigua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Acarigua 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$12.10 VES 6,740

-83.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$54.7 VES 30.5K

-65.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$9.99 VES 5,565

-21.72%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.64 VES 1,472

-26.14%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.27 VES 707

-33.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.97 VES 540

-63.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.48 VES 825

43.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.97 VES 1,656

25.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.86 VES 1,038

-8.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.67 VES 1,488

-38.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.45 VES 808

-21.38%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.86 VES 1,595

-32.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.70 VES 5,403

67.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.38 VES 4,115

-57.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.48 VES 4,167

45.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$5.33 VES 2,970

-48.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.80 VES 1,002

-32.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.27 VES 1,265

-28.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.02 VES 1,125

-21.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.69 VES 1,497

-47.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.09 VES 1,162

-44.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.34 VES 749

-50.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.89 VES 1,054

-71.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.95 VES 2,199

18.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$11.17 VES 6,226

67.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.52 VES 848

18.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.02 VES 1,125

59.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$5.08 VES 2,828

-72.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$2.67 VES 1,489

-51.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$10.03 VES 5,586

-21.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.48 VES 269

164.58%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$25.1K VES 14.0M

-15.25%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$40.0K VES 22.3M

-44.48%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$20.43 VES 11.4K

238.08%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.22 VES 7,367

6.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$39.56 VES 22.0K

-54.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.86 VES 3,266

1.02%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$132 VES 73.3K

127.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,504 VES 3.1M

171.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$63.0 VES 35.1K

-13.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$38.73 VES 21.6K

-30.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$104 VES 57.7K

-17.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$116 VES 64.8K

-39.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$638 VES 355.5K

131.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

-76.56%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Acarigua: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $55.0 in Acarigua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $282 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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 Acarigua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Acarigua is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $1,061 in Acarigua to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $707 in Acarigua – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Acarigua gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Acarigua is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Acarigua are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Acarigua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.