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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,203 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,989 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,775 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 35% lower, Caracas 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$11.99 VES 6,679

-83.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$55.1 VES 30.7K

-66.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$10.13 VES 5,646

-22.80%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.61 VES 1,457

-25.29%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.25 VES 699

-32.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.98 VES 545

-64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.53 VES 855

39.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.06 VES 1,708

21.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.88 VES 1,050

-9.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.69 VES 1,500

-39.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.43 VES 796

-20.28%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.84 VES 1,585

-32.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.69 VES 5,398

67.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.66 VES 4,268

-59.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.70 VES 4,290

41.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$5.24 VES 2,919

-47.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.81 VES 1,009

-33.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.21 VES 1,229

-26.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.05 VES 1,140

-22.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.69 VES 1,497

-47.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.05 VES 1,142

-42.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.34 VES 747

-50.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.87 VES 1,044

-71.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.08 VES 2,274

14.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.83 VES 6,033

72.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.50 VES 837

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.04 VES 1,137

58.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.76 VES 425

18.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$30.45 VES 17.0K

-36.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$5.03 VES 2,801

-71.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$2.66 VES 1,485

-51.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$9.91 VES 5,520

-20.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.48 VES 268

164.58%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$25.2K VES 14.1M

-15.64%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$39.5K VES 22.0M

-43.82%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$20.26 VES 11.3K

240.92%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.05 VES 7,271

7.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$39.78 VES 22.2K

-54.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$69.0 VES 38.4K

-40.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$15.16 VES 8,446

-54.09%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.92 VES 3,299

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

$299 ฿9,766

$131 VES 73.0K

128.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,363 VES 3.0M

178.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$64.0 VES 35.7K

-14.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$39.66 VES 22.1K

-32.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$104 VES 57.8K

-18.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$115 VES 64.1K

-38.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$451 VES 251.1K

-4.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$372 VES 207.3K

-36.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$979 VES 545.3K

-18.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$845 VES 470.8K

-38.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,450 VES 807.9K

36.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$687 VES 382.7K

114.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$289 VES 161.0K

113.75%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Caracas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $451 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 114% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $55.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $283 – 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,804 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 59% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $131 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 $866, than in Caracas at $1,203. 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.