🙂A single person spends $658 per month in Punto Fijo vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,118 per month in Punto Fijo vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,579 per month in Punto Fijo vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Punto Fijo is about 24% 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 Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93VES 4,361
$1.96฿65.9
202.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.01VES 18.4K
$18.35฿617
36.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.71VES 6,401
$7.48฿252
16.44%
Cappuccino
$1.57VES 1,157
$2.02฿67.8
-22.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13VES 829
$0.85฿28.52
32.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60VES 444
$0.36฿11.97
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.38VES 1,017
$2.14฿71.9
-35.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68VES 1,971
$3.59฿121
-25.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69VES 1,242
$1.65฿55.5
2.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56VES 1,150
$1.57฿52.7
-0.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08VES 793
$1.19฿40.05
-9.24%
Eggs
$2.67VES 1,962
$1.94฿65.1
37.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.13VES 3,038
$16.19฿545
-74.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63VES 4,138
$2.99฿101
88.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.75VES 4,225
$10.94฿368
-47.44%
Apples(1kg)
$5.13VES 3,769
$2.71฿91.2
89.30%
Banana(1kg)
$0.74VES 542
$1.17฿39.27
-36.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76VES 561
$1.69฿56.8
-55.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.98VES 724
$1.60฿54.0
-38.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01VES 745
$1.38฿46.56
-26.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02VES 750
$1.20฿40.47
-15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77VES 565
$0.67฿22.51
14.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14VES 842
$0.56฿18.74
103.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03VES 2,962
$4.64฿156
-13.15%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.62฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28VES 944
$1.86฿62.6
-31.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45VES 1,799
$3.30฿111
-25.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98VES 722
$0.88฿29.70
11.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.8VES 44.0K
$19.34฿651
209.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.35VES 4,666
$1.36฿45.92
366.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.60VES 2,647
$1.34฿45.00
168.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.21฿276
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.52VES 382
$1.22฿41.20
-57.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KVES 22.3M
$21.4K฿718.5K
42.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KVES 18.6M
$22.5K฿758.1K
12.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.96VES 16.1K
$70.7฿2,378
-68.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.04฿472
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.90VES 23.5K
$17.49฿589
82.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.58VES 15.1K
$42.15฿1,418
-51.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.14VES 3,779
$6.88฿231
-25.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.55VES 5,551
$5.92฿199
27.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$50.5VES 37.1K
$309฿10.4K
-83.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.9K฿500.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.48VES 33.4K
$55.8฿1,876
-18.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.97VES 25.7K
$26.11฿879
33.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.9VES 59.5K
$83.0฿2,793
-2.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.7VES 73.3K
$70.5฿2,371
41.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$101VES 74.4K
$432฿14.5K
-76.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$78.6VES 57.8K
$239฿8,040
-67.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347VES 255.3K
$822฿27.7K
-57.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$221VES 162.6K
$512฿17.2K
-56.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Punto Fijo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$201VES 148.0K
$579฿19.5K
-65.24%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Punto Fijo 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 188% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $177 in Punto Fijo vs $243 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 31% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $987 per month in Punto Fijo 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, 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $50.5 per month in Punto Fijo and $309 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 38% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $658 in Punto Fijo and $861 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 $658 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 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 to 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