🙂A single person spends $783 per month in Maracaibo vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,303 per month in Maracaibo vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,823 per month in Maracaibo vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Maracaibo is about 18% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Maracaibo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Maracaibo43% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracaibo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.44VES 8,665
$2.10฿69.4
397.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.65VES 33.8K
$19.84฿656
104.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.04VES 7,510
$5.79฿192
56.13%
Cappuccino
$2.67VES 2,219
$1.83฿60.5
45.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14VES 944
$0.78฿25.63
46.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33VES 1,106
$0.31฿10.38
329.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24VES 1,858
$2.34฿77.3
-4.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92VES 2,428
$3.70฿122
-21.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78VES 1,476
$2.03฿67.1
-12.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11VES 1,750
$1.60฿52.8
31.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03VES 856
$1.42฿46.80
-27.46%
Eggs
$3.73VES 3,101
$2.18฿72.0
71.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.70VES 5,560
$15.91฿526
-57.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.47VES 5,370
$3.07฿102
110.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.47VES 6,199
$9.87฿326
-24.32%
Apples(1kg)
$4.72VES 3,916
$2.63฿86.9
79.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37VES 1,135
$1.10฿36.23
24.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55VES 1,290
$1.63฿53.9
-4.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.41VES 1,174
$1.53฿50.6
-7.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23VES 1,021
$1.24฿41.16
-0.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75VES 1,449
$1.13฿37.40
54.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98VES 810
$0.74฿24.41
32.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03VES 1,684
$0.50฿16.50
306.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97VES 2,464
$4.28฿142
-30.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.97VES 7,447
$17.97฿594
-50.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09VES 903
$1.70฿56.2
-35.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61VES 2,171
$2.90฿95.8
-10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracaibo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43VES 360
$0.94฿31.15
-54.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.84VES 34.7K
$55.3฿1,828
-24.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.11VES 3,416
$1.23฿40.80
234.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04VES 1,692
$0.53฿17.67
284.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.34VES 14.4K
$2.40฿79.4
622.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.66VES 546
$1.44฿47.60
-54.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.9KVES 12.4M
$21.2K฿700.9K
-29.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KVES 23.7M
$27.3K฿903.0K
4.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.0VES 52.3K
$64.9฿2,147
-2.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.31VES 6,072
$13.35฿442
-45.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.06VES 20.8K
$20.83฿689
20.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.94VES 28.2K
$40.42฿1,337
-16.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.21VES 23.4K
$3.95฿131
614.18%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07VES 4,211
$6.71฿222
-24.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracaibo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153VES 127.0K
$787฿26.0K
-80.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,201VES 6.0M
$15.1K฿500.1K
-52.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.67VES 23.0K
$56.2฿1,859
-50.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.17VES 26.7K
$24.95฿825
28.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.3VES 50.9K
$92.7฿3,066
-33.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.5VES 47.8K
$75.1฿2,484
-23.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$162VES 134.8K
$484฿16.0K
-66.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$93.1VES 77.3K
$287฿9,500
-67.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$298VES 247.4K
$910฿30.1K
-67.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$197VES 163.4K
$531฿17.5K
-62.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$743VES 616.6K
$1,980฿65.5K
-62.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$506VES 420.6K
$1,451฿48.0K
-65.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracaibo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$200VES 166.3K
$605฿20.0K
-66.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
5.57
259.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maracaibo: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $162 in Maracaibo versus $484 in Chiang Mai. 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 202% 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 $41.00 in Maracaibo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Maracaibo vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Maracaibo 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
Maracaibo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Maracaibo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Maracaibo, 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 Maracaibo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,175 per month in Maracaibo and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Maracaibo or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maracaibo, 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 Maracaibo and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $153 per month in Maracaibo and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Maracaibo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 0% 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 $1,500/month in Maracaibo or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maracaibo, where all-in costs run around $783, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Maracaibo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Maracaibo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maracaibo costs $783 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Maracaibo compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Maracaibo or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Maracaibo. 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.