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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,204 in Beit Shean, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,189 in Beit Shean, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,174 in Beit Shean, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 61% cheaper than Beit Shean, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Beit Shean is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Beit Shean
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿65.0
$21.93 ₪64.7
-90.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿619
$85.8 ₪253
-78.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿255
$15.73 ₪46.43
-50.73%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿63.2
$3.94 ₪11.64
-51.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿26.07
$2.92 ₪8.61
-72.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.74
$2.42 ₪7.13
-85.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.9
$9.12 ₪26.93
-75.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿120
$8.69 ₪25.64
-57.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Beit Shean
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿54.4
$1.67 ₪4.93
-1.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.7
$2.00 ₪5.92
-18.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.28
$2.90 ₪8.56
-58.97%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.8
$4.16 ₪12.27
-51.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿526
$13.99 ₪41.29
14.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$8.54 ₪25.22
-64.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿357
$21.05 ₪62.1
-48.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.9
$3.08 ₪9.08
-10.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.83
$2.22 ₪6.55
-46.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.0
$1.88 ₪5.55
-12.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.0
$1.37 ₪4.06
10.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.59
$1.42 ₪4.20
-2.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.25
$1.16 ₪3.42
2.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.11
$1.97 ₪5.80
-64.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$1.65 ₪4.87
-66.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿151
$9.92 ₪29.28
-53.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿545
$15.76 ₪46.52
5.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.2
$2.76 ₪8.16
-33.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿105
$2.86 ₪8.44
11.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Beit Shean
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.87
$1.68 ₪4.96
-47.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿616
$66.2 ₪195
-71.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.64
$3.74 ₪11.04
-63.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.12
$0.66 ₪1.96
103.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿258
$31.87 ₪94.1
-75.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿40.35
$1.88 ₪5.54
-34.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿711.8K
$45.0K ₪132.8K
-51.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿742.2K
$39.9K ₪117.8K
-43.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Beit Shean
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,322
$239 ₪705
-70.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿450
$9.64 ₪28.47
41.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿574
$27.16 ₪80.2
-35.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Beit Shean
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,361
$66.6 ₪197
-37.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿229
$18.33 ₪54.1
-62.03%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿190
$11.90 ₪35.12
-51.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Beit Shean
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.1K
$613 ₪1,811
-49.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿481.0K
$3,970 ₪11.7K
268.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Beit Shean
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,837
$28.27 ₪83.4
97.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿863
$42.57 ₪126
-38.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,823
$117 ₪345
-26.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,378
$107 ₪315
-32.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Beit Shean
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.1K
$1,008 ₪2,974
-57.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,857
$923 ₪2,723
-74.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.9K
$1,541 ₪4,548
-46.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.8K
$1,415 ₪4,177
-63.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿65.3K
$11.0K ₪32.5K
-82.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.9K
$7,660 ₪22.6K
-80.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Beit Shean
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
2.5
100.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Beit Shean: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $1,008 in Beit Shean. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $86.0 in Beit Shean. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $341 – 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
Chiang Mai vs Beit Shean: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and Beit Shean compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai, $2,204 in Beit Shean – roughly 154% apart. Beit Shean costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Beit Shean?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,306 in Beit Shean. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chiang Mai and Beit Shean?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Beit Shean?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $869 in Chiang Mai and $2,204 in Beit Shean. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Chiang Mai and Beit Shean?
Public transport costs about 254% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Beit Shean at $2,204. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beit Shean it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Beit Shean?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $869 in Chiang Mai to $2,204 in Beit Shean. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chiang Mai or Beit Shean safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Beit Shean?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beit Shean makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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