Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kefar Sava

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,960 in Kefar Sava, rent and utilities included – about $24,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
143

Cost of Living Index in Kefar Sava
Learn more

Kefar Sava Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Kefar Sava

🇮🇱 Israel

$2,960

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kefar Sava

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 Kefar Sava actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,960 in Kefar Sava, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Kefar Sava $2,960

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,330 in Kefar Sava, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Kefar Sava $4,330

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,700 in Kefar Sava, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Kefar Sava $5,700

Chiang Mai is about 68% cheaper than Kefar Sava, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Kefar Sava is 119% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.2

$25.26 ₪79.9

-91.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿622

$130 ₪410

-85.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$19.66 ₪62.2

-71.52%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.5

$5.31 ₪16.79

-68.74%

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

$0.65 ฿21.59

$3.92 ₪12.40

-83.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.18

$2.99 ₪9.46

-89.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.5

$8.82 ₪27.91

-73.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$7.76 ₪24.55

-52.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.3

$2.42 ₪7.65

-16.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.00

$3.16 ₪9.99

-55.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.46

$3.62 ₪11.46

-61.60%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.0

$4.47 ₪14.15

-46.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿551

$20.97 ₪66.3

-21.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.1

$14.17 ₪44.84

-81.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿301

$24.60 ₪77.8

-63.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.1

$4.44 ₪14.04

-45.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.76

$3.69 ₪11.68

-71.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.4

$2.40 ₪7.59

-30.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.0

$3.35 ₪10.59

-53.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.31

$1.86 ₪5.89

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.27

$1.89 ₪5.98

-42.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.43

$2.57 ₪8.13

-70.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.16

$2.17 ₪6.86

-76.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$14.17 ₪44.83

-70.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿598

$12.94 ₪40.94

38.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.2

$3.62 ₪11.44

-55.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.2

$3.92 ₪12.39

-28.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.19

$2.88 ₪9.10

-67.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,766

$89.6 ₪284

-40.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.28

$4.06 ₪12.84

-70.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.72

$0.76 ₪2.41

-77.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.5

$37.61 ₪119

-95.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.16

$2.54 ₪8.05

-42.13%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$54.6K ₪172.7K

-61.52%

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

$26.5K ฿885.1K

$53.1K ₪168.0K

-50.06%

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

$62.6 ฿2,088

$433 ₪1,371

-85.56%

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

$11.60 ฿387

$11.04 ₪34.91

5.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿678

$35.34 ₪112

-42.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,264

$80.8 ₪256

-53.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿123

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿217

$15.57 ₪49.26

-58.19%

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

$727 ฿24.3K

$1,656 ₪5,239

-56.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿553.2K

$25.2K ₪79.6K

-34.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,787

$123 ₪390

-56.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿828

$83.4 ₪264

-70.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,017

$168 ₪532

-46.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,402

$191 ₪603

-62.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$1,736 ₪5,491

-72.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.3K

$1,129 ₪3,572

-72.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.3K

$2,707 ₪8,563

-60.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

$1,653 ₪5,228

-60.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.7K

$10.3K ₪32.6K

-76.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.7K

$6,873 ₪21.7K

-76.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.03

10.74%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kefar Sava: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Kefar Sava

$1.1K 38.2% 264% $819

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Kefar Sava

$464 15.7% 96% $227

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Kefar Sava

$254 8.6% 135% $146

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kefar Sava

$480 16.2% 408% $385

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Kefar Sava

$412 13.9% 438% $335

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Kefar Sava

$109 3.7% 85.8% $50

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Kefar Sava

$112 3.8% 120% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $1,736 in Kefar Sava. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $130 in Kefar Sava. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $464 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇱 Kefar Sava

🕒 Local time

01:45 1:45 AM

20:45 8:45 PM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

110,456

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Israeli New Shekel ILS ₪

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 3 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

1 ILS = 0.316 USD

1 ILS = 0.281 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ILS, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.51 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 3.16 ILS (1 ILS = 0.316 USD). 1 EUR = 3.55 ILS (1 ILS = 0.281 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Kefar Sava 6,510 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kefar Sava

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 Kefar Sava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kefar Sava costs about 216% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,440 in Kefar Sava. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,736 in Kefar Sava.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,656 in Kefar Sava. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 96% more in Kefar Sava, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $2,960 in Kefar Sava. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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 cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

For expats, Chiang Mai is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 68% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.