🙂A single person spends $651 per month in Punto Fijo vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,086 per month in Punto Fijo vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,521 per month in Punto Fijo vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Punto Fijo is about 25% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Punto Fijo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Punto Fijo51% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.12VES 3,412
$1.94฿63.5
215.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.55VES 13.7K
$18.64฿609
31.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.72VES 4,861
$7.82฿255
11.51%
Cappuccino
$1.50VES 835
$1.95฿63.8
-23.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08VES 603
$0.85฿27.77
27.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56VES 312
$0.35฿11.58
60.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.33VES 739
$2.13฿69.6
-37.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67VES 1,486
$3.73฿122
-28.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70VES 947
$1.71฿56.0
-0.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50VES 837
$1.63฿53.2
-7.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08VES 600
$1.14฿37.15
-5.26%
Eggs
$2.80VES 1,560
$1.93฿63.1
45.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.17VES 2,326
$16.21฿530
-74.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78VES 3,223
$3.12฿102
85.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.68VES 3,167
$10.90฿356
-47.89%
Apples(1kg)
$5.10VES 2,844
$2.75฿90.0
85.45%
Banana(1kg)
$0.79VES 438
$1.21฿39.52
-34.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77VES 430
$1.62฿53.0
-52.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97VES 543
$1.59฿51.8
-38.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98VES 547
$1.40฿45.70
-30.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98VES 545
$1.17฿38.17
-16.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78VES 433
$0.66฿21.60
18.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11VES 618
$0.53฿17.22
109.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.95VES 2,201
$4.69฿153
-15.78%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.66฿609
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23VES 685
$1.80฿58.8
-31.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43VES 1,355
$3.23฿106
-24.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02VES 570
$0.90฿29.26
13.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.0VES 33.4K
$19.21฿628
212.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.39VES 3,561
$1.41฿45.91
353.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.48VES 1,940
$1.29฿42.12
169.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿256
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.52VES 292
$1.27฿41.58
-59.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KVES 17.0M
$21.3K฿694.9K
43.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KVES 13.7M
$22.2K฿725.4K
10.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$22.36VES 12.5K
$69.1฿2,256
-67.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.08฿460
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.19VES 17.9K
$18.00฿588
78.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.82VES 11.6K
$41.06฿1,341
-49.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.89VES 2,725
$6.96฿227
-29.74%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65VES 4,260
$5.92฿193
29.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$50.3VES 28.0K
$299฿9,766
-83.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.0K฿488.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.17VES 24.6K
$54.7฿1,787
-19.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.49VES 19.2K
$26.77฿874
28.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.4VES 43.7K
$85.0฿2,776
-7.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.6VES 55.5K
$70.6฿2,306
41.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$100VES 55.8K
$428฿14.0K
-76.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$81.3VES 45.3K
$237฿7,752
-65.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$350VES 195.0K
$801฿26.2K
-56.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$224VES 124.7K
$515฿16.8K
-56.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$204VES 113.5K
$617฿20.2K
-67.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
24
5
380.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Punto Fijo: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $100 in Punto Fijo versus $428 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 203% 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 $25.00 in Punto Fijo versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $177 in Punto Fijo vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Punto Fijo 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
Punto Fijo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Punto Fijo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Punto Fijo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Punto Fijo vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $977 per month in Punto Fijo and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Punto Fijo or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Punto Fijo, 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 Punto Fijo and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $50.3 per month in Punto Fijo and $299 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 Punto Fijo or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 40% 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 $800/month in Punto Fijo or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $651 in Punto Fijo and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Punto Fijo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Punto Fijo costs $651 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 Punto Fijo 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 Punto Fijo or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Punto Fijo. 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.
Punto Fijo vs other spots: cost of living compared