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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $557 in Barquisimeto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $939 in Barquisimeto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,322 in Barquisimeto.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 55% more expensive than Barquisimeto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Barquisimeto 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.40 VES 4,124

-73.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$30.54 VES 17.0K

-38.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$10.15 VES 5,655

-22.96%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.01 VES 565

93.07%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.18 VES 658

-27.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.71 VES 397

-50.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.47 VES 821

44.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.54 VES 856

142.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.53 VES 850

11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.48 VES 1,383

-34.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.99 VES 550

15.15%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.62 VES 902

19.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.10 VES 2,284

295.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.05 VES 2,817

-38.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.05 VES 3,926

54.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$4.91 VES 2,734

-43.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.98 VES 547

23.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.98 VES 548

65.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.98 VES 544

62.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.99 VES 550

41.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.47 VES 819

-20.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.52 VES 288

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.02 VES 566

-48.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.07 VES 1,713

52.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$13.37 VES 7,453

39.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.78 VES 434

130.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.02 VES 567

216.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.44 VES 245

104.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$5.11 VES 2,847

-72.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.51 VES 286

149.02%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$24.7K VES 13.8M

-14.02%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$36.4K VES 20.3M

-38.98%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$20.08 VES 11.2K

243.97%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$10.08 VES 5,618

39.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$40.41 VES 22.5K

-55.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$22.57 VES 12.6K

81.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.49 VES 2,501

31.85%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$50.1 VES 27.9K

497.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$27.93 VES 15.6K

95.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$24.91 VES 13.9K

7.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$50.3 VES 28.0K

69.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$49.45 VES 27.6K

42.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$199 VES 110.9K

115.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$50.7 VES 28.2K

368.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$246 VES 136.9K

226.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$149 VES 82.9K

246.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$469 VES 261.3K

321.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$248 VES 138.4K

493.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$190 VES 105.9K

225.01%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Barquisimeto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $199 in Barquisimeto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 225% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $31.00 in Barquisimeto. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $201, 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 55% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $557 including rent). Barquisimeto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chiang Mai pays 225% more on average, 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: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $199 in Barquisimeto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $557 in Barquisimeto – a 55% 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 55% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.