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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $747 in Maturin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,150 in Maturin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,552 in Maturin, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Maturin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Maturin are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Maturin 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$7.64 VES 6,345

-72.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$15.11 VES 12.5K

-61.68%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.98 VES 817

86.73%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.69 VES 570

13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.99 VES 819

-68.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.05 VES 2,534

-23.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$2.52 VES 2,090

-19.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$3.04 VES 2,523

-47.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.74 VES 1,445

-18.39%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$3.63 VES 3,017

-39.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$4.07 VES 3,381

290.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$7.93 VES 6,584

-61.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$9.20 VES 7,641

7.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$5.07 VES 4,213

-48.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.72 VES 1,429

-36.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.23 VES 1,018

32.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.93 VES 2,433

-47.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.85 VES 2,364

-56.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$2.54 VES 2,105

-55.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$2.54 VES 2,111

-70.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.51 VES 1,256

-66.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.07 VES 3,381

5.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.11 VES 5,908

152.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.46 VES 1,211

16.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.05 VES 1,705

41.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.52 VES 435

80.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$39.20 VES 32.6K

41.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$4.93 VES 4,090

-75.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.97 VES 809

-45.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.48 VES 403

200.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$24.5K VES 20.4M

-13.55%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$39.6K VES 32.9M

-31.14%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$9.98 VES 8,286

550.60%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$5.02 VES 4,166

165.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$35.27 VES 29.3K

-40.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$25.47 VES 21.2K

58.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$162 VES 134.6K

385.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$1,984 VES 1.6M

662.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$85.9 VES 71.3K

-34.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$183 VES 152.0K

-49.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$159 VES 131.6K

-52.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$290 VES 241.2K

581.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$160 VES 132.9K

806.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$208 VES 172.9K

190.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-72.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Maturin: September 7, 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.

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 Maturin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Maturin, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,120 in Maturin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 41% less in Maturin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maturin, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Maturin 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. Maturin costs $747 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 Maturin. 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.