Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Herzliya

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,570 in Herzliya, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Herzliya, Israel
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Herzliya
🇮🇱 Israel
$1,570
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Herzliya

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Herzliya actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,570 in Herzliya, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Herzliya $1,570

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,418 in Herzliya, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Herzliya $2,418

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,267 in Herzliya, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Herzliya $3,267

Chiang Mai is about 40% cheaper than Herzliya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Herzliya is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$22.27 ₪69.8
-89.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$97.8 ₪307
-80.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$16.49 ₪51.7
-66.34%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$4.83 ₪15.14
-65.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$2.88 ₪9.02
-77.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$2.23 ₪6.98
-86.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$7.97 ₪25.00
-70.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$9.70 ₪30.41
-62.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$2.30 ₪7.20
-15.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$1.53 ₪4.80
-5.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$2.65 ₪8.31
-49.81%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$5.48 ₪17.18
-58.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$14.41 ₪45.17
14.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$12.06 ₪37.81
-76.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$19.49 ₪61.1
-52.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$4.28 ₪13.43
-45.09%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$3.27 ₪10.26
-70.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.25 ₪3.91
28.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.95 ₪6.13
-23.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$1.56 ₪4.90
-17.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$0.98 ₪3.08
12.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$1.63 ₪5.12
-56.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.78 ₪2.45
-37.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$14.44 ₪45.28
-71.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$11.16 ₪34.98
56.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.67 ₪8.36
-39.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.42 ₪7.58
14.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$2.62 ₪8.20
-66.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$77.2 ₪242
-29.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$4.12 ₪12.93
-71.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$1.29 ₪4.04
-58.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$32.22 ₪101
-92.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$2.51 ₪7.87
-42.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$55.5K ₪174.1K
-62.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$54.1K ₪169.6K
-50.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$486 ₪1,525
-87.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$12.33 ₪38.66
-1.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$46.11 ₪145
-56.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$14.34 ₪44.98
-54.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$1,159 ₪3,634
-36.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$24.0K ₪75.4K
-38.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$74.7 ₪234
-28.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$40.33 ₪126
-38.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$138 ₪434
-33.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$149 ₪468
-51.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.05
10.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Herzliya: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Herzliya
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Herzliya
$352 50% $117
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Herzliya
$181 66.7% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Herzliya
$545 477% $450
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Herzliya
$365 371% $288
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Herzliya
$98 60% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Herzliya
$29 * 42.9% $22

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $98 in Herzliya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $352 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇱 Herzliya
🕒 Local time
17:44 5:44 PM
12:44 12:44 PM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
106,022
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

ILS, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3.14 ILS (1 ILS = 0.319 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.286 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Herzliya 6,520 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Herzliya

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Herzliya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Herzliya?
Herzliya costs about 68% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Chiang Mai and in Herzliya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,355 in Herzliya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Herzliya?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,159 in Herzliya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Herzliya?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Herzliya, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Herzliya?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,570 in Herzliya. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Herzliya?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $936 versus $1,570 in Herzliya. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Herzliya?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?