😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $705 in Los Teques, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,224 in Los Teques, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,743 in Los Teques, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Los Teques, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Los Teques are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Los Teques47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.8
$12.17VES 8,946
-83.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$55.4VES 40.7K
-66.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$9.96VES 7,322
-24.90%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$2.55VES 1,873
-20.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$1.25VES 921
-32.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$1.01VES 744
-64.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
$1.49VES 1,095
43.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$2.94VES 2,161
22.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$1.80VES 1,324
-8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$2.68VES 1,971
-41.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$1.48VES 1,088
-19.59%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$2.85VES 2,096
-31.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$9.76VES 7,178
65.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$7.60VES 5,585
-60.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$7.62VES 5,599
43.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$5.13VES 3,769
-47.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$1.79VES 1,313
-34.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$2.19VES 1,613
-22.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$2.06VES 1,514
-22.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$2.61VES 1,920
-47.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$2.17VES 1,596
-44.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$1.35VES 996
-50.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$1.94VES 1,423
-71.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$3.91VES 2,876
18.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
$12.06VES 8,866
46.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
$1.46VES 1,075
27.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$1.98VES 1,456
66.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
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
$4.97VES 3,654
-72.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
$2.62VES 1,928
-48.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$10.07VES 7,401
-18.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$0.49VES 357
148.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$24.6KVES 18.1M
-13.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$39.5KVES 29.0M
-42.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$20.09VES 14.8K
251.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$13.30VES 9,778
5.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$39.57VES 29.1K
-55.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$5.82VES 4,280
1.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$133VES 97.5K
132.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
$5,553VES 4.1M
167.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$62.9VES 46.2K
-11.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$38.74VES 28.5K
-32.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$103VES 75.7K
-19.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$116VES 85.4K
-39.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
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
$200VES 147.1K
857.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
$268VES 197.1K
447.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
$199VES 146.2K
191.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
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 Los Teques: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 191% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $55.0 in Los Teques. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $284 – 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 Los Teques: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Los Teques?
Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Los Teques, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Los Teques?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,057 in Los Teques. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Los Teques?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $55.0 in Los Teques. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Los Teques?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Los Teques?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $705 in Los Teques, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Los Teques?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Los Teques costs $705 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Los Teques?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Los Teques?
If budget matters most, go with Los Teques. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared