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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $736 in Maracay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,252 in Maracay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,768 in Maracay, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Maracay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Maracay are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Maracay 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$4.91 VES 4,081

-57.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$32.80 VES 27.2K

-39.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.86 VES 6,531

-26.34%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.70 VES 1,411

7.65%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.23 VES 1,018

-36.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.16 VES 963

-73.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.22 VES 1,011

91.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.08 VES 2,562

20.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$2.65 VES 2,203

-23.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$2.20 VES 1,830

-27.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.99 VES 820

43.43%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.74 VES 2,273

-20.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$6.73 VES 5,589

136.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.76 VES 4,782

-46.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$8.48 VES 7,040

16.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$4.25 VES 3,527

-38.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.96 VES 1,624

-43.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.11 VES 1,755

-22.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.25 VES 1,866

-32.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.30 VES 1,908

-46.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$2.21 VES 1,837

-48.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.58 VES 1,315

-53.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$2.29 VES 1,899

-78.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.54 VES 2,109

68.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$10.04 VES 8,333

78.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.16 VES 967

46.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.78 VES 1,477

62.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.48 VES 402

95.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$20.37 VES 16.9K

171.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.98 VES 2,478

-58.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$2.68 VES 2,224

-80.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$10.11 VES 8,400

-76.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.61 VES 507

136.07%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$25.5K VES 21.2M

-16.84%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$38.5K VES 32.0M

-29.09%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$12.66 VES 10.5K

412.88%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$10.83 VES 8,993

23.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$36.45 VES 30.3K

-42.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$29.99 VES 24.9K

34.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$14.81 VES 12.3K

-73.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.05 VES 3,361

65.68%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$74.6 VES 61.9K

955.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$6,048 VES 5.0M

150.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$52.4 VES 43.5K

7.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$36.58 VES 30.4K

-31.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$82.0 VES 68.1K

13.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$94.0 VES 78.0K

-20.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$225 VES 186.5K

115.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$108 VES 90.0K

164.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$555 VES 461.2K

63.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$270 VES 224.3K

96.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$454 VES 376.7K

336.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$200 VES 166.3K

624.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$209 VES 173.4K

189.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

21.5

-74.09%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Maracay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $225 in Maracay. 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 190% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Maracay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $265 – 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 Maracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Maracay, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,104 in Maracay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $74.6 in Maracay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maracay, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Maracay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maracay costs $736 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Maracay. 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.