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: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $794 in Acarigua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $1,401 in Acarigua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,009 in Acarigua.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 17% more expensive than in Acarigua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Acarigua 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Acarigua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.3
$10.89 VES 9,147
-80.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿653
$68.1 VES 57.2K
-71.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$11.11 VES 9,338
-48.96%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.1
$3.70 VES 3,105
-51.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.56
$1.49 VES 1,255
-48.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.49
$1.29 VES 1,084
-72.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$1.97 VES 1,653
12.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿126
$2.94 VES 2,474
28.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Acarigua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.1
$2.68 VES 2,249
-23.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.4
$2.26 VES 1,898
-33.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.54
$1.81 VES 1,522
-22.65%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.1
$4.84 VES 4,064
-53.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿539
$10.24 VES 8,599
58.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.4
$9.18 VES 7,715
-68.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿313
$11.50 VES 9,664
-18.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.1
$7.08 VES 5,948
-62.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.25
$1.95 VES 1,639
-44.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.8
$2.11 VES 1,775
-23.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.58
$2.37 VES 1,993
-38.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.51
$2.39 VES 2,009
-46.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.19
$2.17 VES 1,819
-51.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.86
$1.62 VES 1,359
-55.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.50
$2.31 VES 1,942
-77.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$4.56 VES 3,827
-7.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿609
$11.90 VES 10,000
53.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.2
$1.42 VES 1,195
14.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.5
$2.14 VES 1,802
35.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Acarigua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.22
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,789
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.02
$5.13 VES 4,310
-77.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.24
$2.76 VES 2,321
-78.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.4
$15.26 VES 12.8K
-84.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.25
$0.80 VES 674
81.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿699.1K
$25.3K VES 21.3M
-16.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿879.1K
$37.6K VES 31.6M
-29.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Acarigua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,118
$23.44 VES 19.7K
171.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿429
$11.70 VES 9,830
10.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿683
$36.09 VES 30.3K
-43.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Acarigua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,298
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿219
$6.62 VES 5,564
-0.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Acarigua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.1K
$160 VES 134.3K
390.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿488.2K
$6,027 VES 5.1M
143.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Acarigua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,834
$73.5 VES 61.7K
-24.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿823
$46.52 VES 39.1K
-46.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,132
$125 VES 105.3K
-24.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,461
$140 VES 117.4K
-47.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Acarigua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,588
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.1K
$634 VES 532.2K
127.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Acarigua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
22
-74.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Acarigua: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $68.0 in Acarigua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $335 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
Is Acarigua cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Acarigua is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,398 in Chiang Mai and $1,191 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.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Acarigua?
Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 39% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai and in Acarigua?
All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $794 in Acarigua – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Acarigua?
At $794 in Acarigua versus $932 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Acarigua but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Acarigua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Acarigua more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Acarigua?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Acarigua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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