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: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $713 in Acarigua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,229 in Acarigua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,744 in Acarigua.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 21% more expensive than in Acarigua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Acarigua 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$12.23 VES 8,988

-83.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$54.8 VES 40.3K

-66.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$10.04 VES 7,383

-25.50%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.59 VES 1,907

-22.01%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.32 VES 969

-35.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.02 VES 746

-64.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.53 VES 1,126

39.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.93 VES 2,157

22.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.82 VES 1,340

-9.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.71 VES 1,991

-42.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.43 VES 1,053

-16.78%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.84 VES 2,091

-31.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.74 VES 7,160

66.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.51 VES 5,523

-60.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.60 VES 5,590

43.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$5.37 VES 3,951

-49.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.78 VES 1,311

-34.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.27 VES 1,672

-25.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.97 VES 1,451

-18.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$2.55 VES 1,876

-45.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.08 VES 1,528

-42.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.31 VES 964

-48.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.95 VES 1,435

-71.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.95 VES 2,901

17.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$12.18 VES 8,952

44.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.53 VES 1,122

21.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.97 VES 1,449

67.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$5.12 VES 3,764

-73.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$2.75 VES 2,021

-51.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$9.92 VES 7,289

-17.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.49 VES 359

148.98%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$25.2K VES 18.6M

-15.41%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$39.6K VES 29.1M

-43.06%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$20.45 VES 15.0K

245.57%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$13.09 VES 9,622

7.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$39.32 VES 28.9K

-55.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.01 VES 4,418

-1.50%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$134 VES 98.8K

129.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$5,554 VES 4.1M

167.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$63.7 VES 46.9K

-12.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$38.61 VES 28.4K

-32.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$102 VES 75.2K

-18.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$117 VES 85.9K

-39.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$641 VES 470.9K

129.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Acarigua: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $55.0 in Acarigua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $285 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,070 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 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $713 in Acarigua – a 21% 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 21% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.