😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,220 in Ashdod versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,411 in Ashdod versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,603 in Ashdod versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Ashdod is roughly 158% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ashdod is 66% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashdod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.66₪78.0
$1.96฿65.9
1209.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4₪296
$18.35฿617
430.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.41₪46.79
$7.48฿252
106.02%
Cappuccino
$3.67₪11.14
$2.02฿67.8
81.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83₪8.60
$0.85฿28.52
232.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99₪6.05
$0.36฿11.97
452.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.52₪25.87
$2.14฿71.9
298.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.63₪26.22
$3.59฿121
140.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashdod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95₪5.92
$1.65฿55.5
18.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.63₪8.00
$1.57฿52.7
67.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50₪7.58
$1.19฿40.05
110.08%
Eggs
$4.11₪12.47
$1.94฿65.1
111.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.60₪56.5
$16.19฿545
14.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.24₪34.13
$2.99฿101
275.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.54₪53.3
$10.94฿368
60.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03₪9.21
$2.71฿91.2
11.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09₪6.35
$1.17฿39.27
78.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₪5.70
$1.69฿56.8
11.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97₪5.97
$1.60฿54.0
23.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39₪4.23
$1.38฿46.56
0.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19₪3.63
$1.20฿40.47
-0.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01₪6.11
$0.67฿22.51
200.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30₪3.96
$0.56฿18.74
132.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.29₪34.28
$4.64฿156
143.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.09₪39.76
$17.62฿593
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41₪7.32
$1.86฿62.6
29.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₪8.86
$3.30฿111
-11.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashdod
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.66₪5.05
$0.88฿29.70
88.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.9₪209
$19.34฿651
256.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.89₪17.88
$1.36฿45.92
333.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57₪1.74
$1.34฿45.00
-57.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$44.01₪134
$8.21฿276
436.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06₪6.26
$1.22฿41.20
68.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K₪118.6K
$21.4K฿718.5K
82.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.2K₪128.1K
$22.5K฿758.1K
87.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashdod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$259₪786
$70.7฿2,378
266.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.06₪33.60
$14.04฿472
-21.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.38₪98.4
$17.49฿589
85.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashdod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.6₪202
$42.15฿1,418
58.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.71₪47.73
$6.88฿231
128.34%
Cinema Ticket
$12.59₪38.25
$5.92฿199
112.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashdod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$849₪2,578
$309฿10.4K
175.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0K₪36.6K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-19.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashdod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113₪343
$55.8฿1,876
102.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1₪167
$26.11฿879
110.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126₪382
$83.0฿2,793
51.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$195₪593
$70.5฿2,371
176.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashdod
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,536₪4,666
$432฿14.5K
255.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$810₪2,461
$239฿8,040
239.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,531₪4,651
$822฿27.7K
86.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,425₪4,327
$512฿17.2K
178.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,731₪23.5K
$1,915฿64.4K
303.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,820₪17.7K
$1,467฿49.4K
296.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashdod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,276₪13.0K
$579฿19.5K
638.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
5
-30.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashdod: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,536 in Ashdod and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashdod pays 638% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $97.0 in Ashdod vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $243 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.
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
Ashdod vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Ashdod?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 158% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ashdod or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 638% higher in Ashdod, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Ashdod and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,536 in Ashdod versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $849 in Ashdod versus $309 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ashdod and in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Ashdod. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ashdod or in Chiang Mai?
At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $2,220 in Ashdod, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Ashdod. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ashdod or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ashdod, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ashdod or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Ashdod and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% less than in Ashdod. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.