Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,261 per month in Arad vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,253 per month in Arad vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,244 per month in Arad vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Arad costs about 160% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Arad sits 68% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.08 ₪52.7

$1.98 ฿64.3

813.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.0 ₪175

$18.80 ฿612

219.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.35 ₪44.77

$7.75 ฿252

98.06%

Cappuccino

$2.78 ₪8.11

$1.92 ฿62.5

44.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ₪8.00

$0.79 ฿25.79

248.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₪5.98

$0.36 ฿11.62

469.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 ₪12.35

$2.21 ฿72.1

91.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.62 ₪25.12

$3.66 ฿119

135.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ₪5.15

$1.65 ฿53.8

7.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 ₪7.54

$1.63 ฿53.2

58.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₪7.06

$1.19 ฿38.86

103.36%

Eggs

$4.13 ₪12.05

$2.00 ฿65.1

106.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.69 ₪54.5

$15.98 ฿520

16.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.17 ₪32.58

$3.03 ฿98.5

268.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.79 ₪51.9

$10.86 ฿354

63.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 ₪8.83

$2.76 ฿90.0

9.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 ₪5.79

$1.18 ฿38.42

68.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₪5.45

$1.64 ฿53.5

14.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 ₪5.67

$1.52 ฿49.51

27.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ₪4.05

$1.38 ฿45.10

0.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ₪3.51

$1.19 ฿38.84

0.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₪5.79

$0.70 ฿22.86

184.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₪3.91

$0.56 ฿18.13

139.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.15 ₪32.50

$4.58 ฿149

143.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.84 ₪40.34

$16.56 ฿539

-16.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 ₪6.96

$1.83 ฿59.5

30.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₪8.60

$3.20 ฿104

-7.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.57 ₪4.58

$0.88 ฿28.56

78.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.9 ₪189

$18.72 ฿610

246.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 ₪17.06

$1.36 ฿44.16

330.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 ₪4.96

$1.34 ฿43.65

26.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.12 ₪129

$7.84 ฿256

462.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.04 ₪5.95

$1.23 ฿39.92

65.85%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.2K ₪117.3K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

86.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$42.0K ₪122.5K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

86.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$255 ₪743

$70.5 ฿2,298

261.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.95 ₪31.92

$13.68 ฿445

-19.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.31 ₪94.2

$17.45 ฿568

85.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.3 ₪196

$41.33 ฿1,346

62.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.00 ₪52.5

$6.96 ฿227

158.62%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 ₪36.08

$5.77 ฿188

114.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$837 ₪2,441

$307 ฿10.0K

172.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₪33.9K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-20.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$115 ₪335

$55.8 ฿1,817

105.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 ₪157

$26.21 ฿854

105.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₪364

$85.8 ฿2,793

45.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$197 ₪573

$72.2 ฿2,353

172.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₪2,056

$430 ฿14.0K

64.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$937 ₪2,734

$239 ฿7,774

292.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,119 ₪3,263

$817 ฿26.6K

36.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 ₪4,166

$511 ฿16.6K

179.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,335 ₪27.2K

$1,983 ฿64.6K

370.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,403 ₪21.6K

$1,484 ฿48.3K

398.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,761 ₪8,052

$619 ฿20.2K

346.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

-30.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arad: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $705 in Arad versus $430 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 346% higher in Arad, 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 $60.0 in Arad versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Arad vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arad costs about 160% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,392 per month in Arad and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,261 in Arad and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 247% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Arad at $2,261. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,261 in Arad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.