Cost of Living Comparison Between Beit Shemesh and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Beit Shemesh and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,952 per month in Beit Shemesh vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,022 per month in Beit Shemesh vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,092 per month in Beit Shemesh vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Beit Shemesh costs about 129% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Beit Shemesh sits 46% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.99 ₪62.6

$1.96 ฿64.0

970.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.1 ₪254

$18.81 ฿615

352.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.55 ₪43.35

$7.92 ฿259

83.71%

Cappuccino

$4.22 ₪12.57

$1.91 ฿62.6

120.94%

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

$2.98 ₪8.88

$0.84 ฿27.41

254.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₪6.88

$0.35 ฿11.51

560.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.43 ₪28.10

$2.21 ฿72.1

326.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.28 ₪24.66

$3.80 ฿124

117.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₪5.91

$1.64 ฿53.5

20.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 ₪7.82

$1.62 ฿53.1

61.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 ₪8.34

$1.18 ฿38.62

137.29%

Eggs

$4.14 ₪12.33

$2.01 ฿65.8

105.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.67 ₪49.67

$15.89 ฿520

4.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 ₪32.14

$3.01 ฿98.5

258.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.23 ₪60.3

$10.77 ฿352

87.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 ₪10.68

$2.61 ฿85.5

37.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 ₪6.16

$1.22 ฿39.88

69.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₪5.62

$1.70 ฿55.7

11.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 ₪6.93

$1.58 ฿51.5

46.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 ₪4.89

$1.32 ฿43.14

24.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 ₪4.93

$1.17 ฿38.23

41.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ₪4.64

$0.67 ฿21.98

132.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₪2.85

$0.56 ฿18.32

71.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.48 ₪31.22

$4.53 ฿148

131.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.36 ₪36.83

$18.20 ฿595

-32.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₪6.77

$1.83 ฿60.0

24.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₪8.08

$3.23 ฿106

-16.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 ₪5.08

$0.89 ฿29.00

92.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.66 ₪82.4

$19.38 ฿634

42.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 ₪10.51

$1.35 ฿44.20

161.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₪1.70

$1.35 ฿44.05

-57.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.32 ₪63.5

$8.25 ฿270

158.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 ₪6.20

$1.27 ฿41.64

63.78%

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

$46.0K ₪137.0K

$21.2K ฿691.8K

117.38%

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

$46.2K ₪137.7K

$22.5K ฿735.3K

105.49%

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

$211 ₪629

$70.2 ฿2,294

200.76%

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

$12.04 ₪35.88

$13.77 ฿450

-12.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.36 ₪84.5

$17.60 ฿575

61.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.5 ₪201

$41.57 ฿1,360

62.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.38 ₪54.8

$6.60 ฿216

178.48%

Cinema Ticket

$12.53 ₪37.33

$5.78 ฿189

116.78%

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

$917 ₪2,731

$306 ฿10.0K

199.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K ₪50.4K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

14.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 ₪221

$54.4 ฿1,778

36.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.8 ₪175

$26.14 ฿855

125.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.4 ₪290

$84.5 ฿2,764

15.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 ₪299

$69.4 ฿2,270

44.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$815 ₪2,427

$424 ฿13.9K

92.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₪2,074

$238 ฿7,788

192.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,471 ₪4,382

$825 ฿27.0K

78.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₪3,976

$515 ฿16.8K

158.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,655 ₪13.9K

$635 ฿20.8K

632.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.75

-45.00%

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

Last update for Beit Shemesh: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $815 in Beit Shemesh versus $424 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 633% higher in Beit Shemesh, 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 $85.0 in Beit Shemesh versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $243 – 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

Beit Shemesh vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beit Shemesh is pricier by about 129%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,928 per month in Beit Shemesh and $1,278 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.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Beit Shemesh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Beit Shemesh and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Beit Shemesh at $1,952. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beit Shemesh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Beit Shemesh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.