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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $538 in Barquisimeto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $918 in Barquisimeto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,298 in Barquisimeto.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 60% more expensive than in Barquisimeto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Barquisimeto 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$7.32 VES 5,384

-73.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$30.12 VES 22.1K

-39.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$9.96 VES 7,319

-24.90%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$0.97 VES 715

108.25%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.20 VES 884

-29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.73 VES 540

-50.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.48 VES 1,085

44.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.54 VES 1,135

133.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.52 VES 1,117

8.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.53 VES 1,859

-37.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.02 VES 747

16.67%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.64 VES 1,207

18.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$4.06 VES 2,983

298.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.03 VES 3,698

-40.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.95 VES 5,109

57.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$4.89 VES 3,598

-44.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.98 VES 723

19.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.01 VES 744

67.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.03 VES 756

55.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.99 VES 727

39.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.51 VES 1,112

-20.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.52 VES 384

28.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$1.02 VES 748

-45.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.93 VES 2,156

58.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$13.34 VES 9,807

32.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$0.79 VES 583

135.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$0.98 VES 718

236.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.44 VES 323

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$4.88 VES 3,584

-72.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.49 VES 359

148.98%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$24.5K VES 18.0M

-12.89%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$35.7K VES 26.3M

-36.96%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$19.97 VES 14.7K

253.88%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$10.07 VES 7,399

39.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$40.16 VES 29.5K

-56.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$22.92 VES 16.9K

83.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.48 VES 3,294

32.14%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$50.2 VES 36.9K

515.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$27.49 VES 20.2K

102.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$24.55 VES 18.0K

6.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$50.8 VES 37.4K

63.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$49.06 VES 36.1K

43.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$202 VES 148.7K

113.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$49.50 VES 36.4K

382.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$253 VES 185.9K

225.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$151 VES 110.7K

239.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$473 VES 348.0K

304.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$245 VES 180.3K

498.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$188 VES 138.4K

207.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Barquisimeto: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $202 in Barquisimeto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 208% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $30.00 in Barquisimeto. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $202, with Barquisimeto cheaper for home cooking.

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 Barquisimeto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Barquisimeto differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $538 including rent). Barquisimeto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 208% higher in Chiang Mai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $202 in Barquisimeto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $538 in Barquisimeto – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Barquisimeto gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Barquisimeto 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 Barquisimeto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.