😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $632 in Yaracuy, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,142 in Yaracuy, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,651 in Yaracuy, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Yaracuy, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Yaracuy are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Yaracuy53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Yaracuy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.6
$10.10VES 5,646
-80.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$29.58VES 16.5K
-36.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿256
$10.05VES 5,618
-22.19%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$1.01VES 567
93.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.80
$1.27VES 712
-33.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.60
$1.00VES 561
-65.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.7
$1.46VES 819
45.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$2.93VES 1,636
27.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Yaracuy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.80VES 1,005
-5.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.3
$1.95VES 1,090
-16.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.18
$1.02VES 571
11.76%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.2
$2.81VES 1,569
-31.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$3.97VES 2,221
308.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$7.64VES 4,273
-59.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$7.34VES 4,103
48.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.1
$5.13VES 2,866
-46.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.56
$1.87VES 1,044
-35.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$2.29VES 1,278
-29.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.9
$2.02VES 1,129
-21.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.75
$2.64VES 1,478
-46.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.20
$2.15VES 1,202
-45.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.62
$0.97VES 544
-31.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.24
$0.99VES 552
-46.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$1.52VES 851
208.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿610
$10.89VES 6,087
71.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$0.98VES 547
83.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.06VES 1,149
56.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Yaracuy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.28
$0.62VES 348
45.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$36.75VES 20.5K
-47.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.96
$5.11VES 2,855
-72.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.16
$2.74VES 1,530
-52.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$8.05VES 4,502
-2.61%
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
$24.8KVES 13.9M
-14.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿726.1K
$39.4KVES 22.0M
-43.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Yaracuy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,258
$20.15VES 11.3K
242.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$13.26VES 7,410
6.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$39.65VES 22.2K
-54.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Yaracuy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,342
$14.86VES 8,307
176.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$5.09VES 2,843
36.74%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$6.11VES 3,414
-3.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Yaracuy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,775
$40.35VES 22.6K
641.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.8K
$5,369VES 3.0M
178.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Yaracuy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,788
$19.70VES 11.0K
177.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿875
$39.61VES 22.1K
-32.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,778
$60.5VES 33.8K
40.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,308
$68.8VES 38.4K
2.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Yaracuy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$59.9VES 33.5K
614.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,759
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$304VES 169.8K
163.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.9K
$203VES 113.4K
154.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Yaracuy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
-
-
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 Yaracuy: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $59.9 in Yaracuy. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Yaracuy. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $240 in Yaracuy – so Yaracuy wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Yaracuy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Yaracuy?
Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Yaracuy, 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 Yaracuy?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $948 in Yaracuy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Yaracuy?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yaracuy, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Yaracuy?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $40.35 in Yaracuy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Yaracuy?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Yaracuy?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $632 in Yaracuy, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Yaracuy?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yaracuy costs $632 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 Yaracuy?
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 Yaracuy?
If budget matters most, go with Yaracuy. 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