ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,281 in Herzliya, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,828 in Herzliya, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,374 in Herzliya, rent included.
ðChiang Mai is about 63% cheaper than Herzliya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðChiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Herzliya is 70% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$15.78âŠ47.02
-87.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$100âŠ299
-81.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$16.75âŠ49.92
-52.72%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$4.31âŠ12.85
-55.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$2.59âŠ7.71
-67.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$3.28âŠ9.77
-89.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$9.15âŠ27.27
-75.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$8.67âŠ25.83
-56.17%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$2.05âŠ6.12
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$3.48âŠ10.37
-53.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$2.92âŠ8.71
-59.59%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$4.83âŠ14.39
-58.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$13.19âŠ39.29
20.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$11.38âŠ33.90
-73.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
$18.03âŠ53.7
-40.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$3.11âŠ9.26
-16.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$2.58âŠ7.70
-52.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$2.46âŠ7.32
-30.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$1.97âŠ5.86
-19.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$1.62âŠ4.83
-18.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$2.33âŠ6.94
-49.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$2.45âŠ7.30
-72.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$1.78âŠ5.29
-68.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$12.04âŠ35.87
-62.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$15.80âŠ47.08
15.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$2.82âŠ8.42
-35.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$3.47âŠ10.33
-6.92%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$1.73âŠ5.15
-48.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
$70.4âŠ210
-72.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$4.21âŠ12.54
-67.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$0.86âŠ2.56
56.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$30.07âŠ89.6
-72.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$2.06âŠ6.15
-38.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$39.8KâŠ118.5K
-46.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$39.7KâŠ118.3K
-43.34%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$290âŠ864
-75.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$11.19âŠ33.35
23.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$28.62âŠ85.3
-38.50%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$72.5âŠ216
-42.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$25.13âŠ74.9
-73.74%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$12.61âŠ37.59
-54.16%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$1,210âŠ3,606
-74.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$20.5KâŠ61.0K
-27.56%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$92.9âŠ277
-41.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$62.2âŠ185
-57.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$103âŠ306
-17.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$102âŠ303
-31.69%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$1,863âŠ5,552
-77.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$916âŠ2,728
-73.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$2,662âŠ7,932
-69.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$2,327âŠ6,934
-77.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$11.3KâŠ33.7K
-81.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$12.5KâŠ37.2K
-87.81%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Herzliya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
$5,265âŠ15.7K
-87.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.33
-21.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Herzliya: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $1,863 in Herzliya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 729% higher in Herzliya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $100 in Herzliya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $381 â 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 Herzliya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Herzliya?
Herzliya costs about 168% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Herzliya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,422 in Herzliya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Herzliya?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Herzliya?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,210 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 Herzliya?
Groceries cost about 57% more in Herzliya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Herzliya?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Herzliya at $2,281. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Herzliya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Herzliya?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,281 in Herzliya. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Herzliya?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Herzliya?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Herzliya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared