😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $715 in Los Teques, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,228 in Los Teques, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,742 in Los Teques, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Los Teques, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Los Teques are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Los Teques47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.6
$12.23VES 6,838
-84.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$54.2VES 30.3K
-65.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿256
$9.94VES 5,557
-21.33%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$2.56VES 1,430
-23.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.80
$1.28VES 713
-33.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.60
$0.95VES 528
-63.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.7
$1.52VES 848
40.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$3.05VES 1,704
22.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.82VES 1,017
-6.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.3
$2.72VES 1,518
-40.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.18
$1.45VES 809
-21.38%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.2
$2.79VES 1,559
-30.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$10.12VES 5,654
60.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$7.59VES 4,244
-58.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$7.66VES 4,283
42.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.1
$5.18VES 2,896
-46.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.56
$1.82VES 1,017
-33.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$2.27VES 1,271
-28.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.9
$1.99VES 1,111
-20.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.75
$2.59VES 1,449
-45.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.20
$2.05VES 1,144
-42.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.62
$1.31VES 730
-49.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.24
$1.96VES 1,095
-72.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$3.90VES 2,179
20.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿610
$10.82VES 6,049
72.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.48VES 825
21.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.98VES 1,105
63.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.28
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.96
$4.95VES 2,768
-71.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.16
$2.78VES 1,553
-53.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$9.92VES 5,543
-20.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.62
$0.51VES 286
149.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿695.5K
$24.6KVES 13.7M
-13.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿726.1K
$39.8KVES 22.2M
-44.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,258
$19.94VES 11.1K
246.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$13.02VES 7,278
8.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$40.76VES 22.8K
-55.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,342
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$6.15VES 3,438
-3.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,775
$133VES 74.5K
124.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.8K
$5,478VES 3.1M
172.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,788
$62.7VES 35.1K
-12.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿875
$38.87VES 21.7K
-31.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,778
$106VES 59.2K
-19.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,308
$116VES 65.0K
-39.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,759
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$201VES 112.1K
884.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$266VES 148.5K
455.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Los Teques
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$200VES 112.0K
208.09%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Los Teques: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 208% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $54.0 in Los Teques. 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 Los Teques: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Los Teques?
Chiang Mai costs about 21% 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 vs Los Teques?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,073 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 vs Los Teques?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $54.0 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 Los Teques?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% 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 Los Teques?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $715 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 $715 versus $866 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 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