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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,313 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,237 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,162 in Caracas, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 28% cheaper than Caracas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Caracas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Caracas 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$10.86 VES 8,815

-80.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$68.5 VES 55.6K

-71.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$11.05 VES 8,971

-48.87%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$3.53 VES 2,862

-48.73%

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

$0.71 ฿23.46

$1.49 VES 1,206

-52.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.39

$1.31 VES 1,063

-75.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$2.03 VES 1,647

10.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿120

$2.96 VES 2,401

22.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$2.75 VES 2,235

-28.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.42

$2.24 VES 1,819

-33.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.96

$1.87 VES 1,522

-28.34%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$4.76 VES 3,865

-52.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$10.01 VES 8,126

62.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.2

$9.11 VES 7,391

-67.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$11.24 VES 9,126

-11.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$7.11 VES 5,771

-63.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.75

$1.98 VES 1,609

-46.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.18 VES 1,766

-26.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$2.34 VES 1,900

-35.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.80

$2.37 VES 1,925

-46.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.09

$2.13 VES 1,729

-49.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.70

$1.57 VES 1,277

-54.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.73

$2.41 VES 1,959

-78.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.67 VES 3,789

-10.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿588

$11.92 VES 9,672

49.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.36 VES 1,105

24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.05 VES 1,664

38.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.45

$0.52 VES 425

78.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,772

$30.55 VES 24.8K

76.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.61

$5.11 VES 4,147

-75.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.97

$2.83 VES 2,295

-79.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.8

$15.28 VES 12.4K

-84.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.46

$0.83 VES 673

69.88%

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

$21.4K ฿705.5K

$25.1K VES 20.4M

-14.57%

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

$27.3K ฿899.3K

$38.5K VES 31.3M

-29.02%

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

$63.7 ฿2,095

$23.11 VES 18.8K

175.51%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$11.85 VES 9,617

8.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$36.68 VES 29.8K

-44.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,275

$67.0 VES 54.4K

-42.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$17.84 VES 14.5K

-77.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$6.59 VES 5,352

2.28%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$161 VES 131.0K

382.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.7K

$6,113 VES 5.0M

138.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,786

$74.5 VES 60.5K

-27.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$46.55 VES 37.8K

-45.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,104

$123 VES 99.6K

-23.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,416

$141 VES 114.2K

-47.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$608 VES 493.9K

-19.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,518

$433 VES 351.7K

-33.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$1,104 VES 895.9K

-19.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$866 VES 703.0K

-40.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,457 VES 1.2M

34.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$681 VES 552.9K

116.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$303 VES 246.1K

98.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-74.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Caracas: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $608 in Caracas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 99% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $68.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $335 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,969 in Caracas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 76% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $161 in Caracas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Caracas at $1,313. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caracas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.