🙂A single person spends $673 per month in Porlamar vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $927 per month in Porlamar vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,181 per month in Porlamar vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Porlamar is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Porlamar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Porlamar50% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porlamar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43VES 3,256
$1.96฿65.9
126.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.11VES 36.1K
$18.35฿617
167.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.09VES 5,947
$7.48฿252
8.16%
Cappuccino
$1.48VES 1,086
$2.02฿67.8
-26.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66VES 1,219
$0.85฿28.52
95.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79VES 579
$0.36฿11.97
119.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37VES 1,005
$2.14฿71.9
-35.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21VES 1,627
$3.59฿121
-38.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porlamar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66VES 1,224
$1.65฿55.5
0.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46VES 1,071
$1.57฿52.7
-7.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17VES 862
$1.19฿40.05
-1.68%
Eggs
$2.02VES 1,482
$1.94฿65.1
4.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.01VES 4,419
$16.19฿545
-62.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.63VES 4,872
$2.99฿101
121.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.34VES 5,397
$10.94฿368
-32.91%
Apples(1kg)
$4.35VES 3,194
$2.71฿91.2
60.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71VES 1,255
$1.17฿39.27
46.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51VES 1,112
$1.69฿56.8
-10.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.80VES 1,322
$1.60฿54.0
12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70VES 1,246
$1.38฿46.56
23.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56VES 1,148
$1.20฿40.47
30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.75VES 1,287
$0.67฿22.51
161.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99VES 725
$0.56฿18.74
76.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95VES 2,170
$4.64฿156
-36.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.48VES 4,765
$17.62฿593
-63.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80VES 585
$1.86฿62.6
-56.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64VES 1,207
$3.30฿111
-50.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Porlamar
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49VES 361
$0.88฿29.70
-44.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿651
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.98VES 3,663
$1.36฿45.92
266.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.03VES 2,228
$1.34฿45.00
126.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.21฿276
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49VES 359
$1.22฿41.20
-59.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.4K฿718.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿758.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porlamar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$30.07VES 22.1K
$70.7฿2,378
-57.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03VES 7,375
$14.04฿472
-28.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.97VES 25.7K
$17.49฿589
99.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porlamar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.3VES 37.0K
$42.15฿1,418
19.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.11VES 7,431
$6.88฿231
46.95%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97VES 2,186
$5.92฿199
-49.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porlamar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$309฿10.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.9K฿500.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porlamar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.8฿1,876
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.11฿879
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$83.0฿2,793
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$70.5฿2,371
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porlamar
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199VES 146.0K
$432฿14.5K
-54.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$198VES 145.2K
$239฿8,040
-17.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$822฿27.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$512฿17.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$406VES 298.4K
$1,915฿64.4K
-78.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$149VES 109.3K
$1,467฿49.4K
-89.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porlamar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$211VES 155.1K
$579฿19.5K
-63.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Porlamar: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Porlamar versus $432 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 175% 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 $49.00 in Porlamar versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Porlamar vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Porlamar 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
Porlamar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Porlamar or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Porlamar, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Porlamar and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,010 per month in Porlamar and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Porlamar or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Porlamar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Porlamar compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $673 in Porlamar and $861 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Porlamar or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 15% 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 Porlamar or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $673 in Porlamar and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Porlamar or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Porlamar costs $673 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Porlamar 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 Porlamar or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Porlamar. 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.