Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kiryat Ata

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $2,620 in Kiryat Ata, rent and utilities included – about $20,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Kiryat Ata
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,620
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kiryat Ata

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 Kiryat Ata actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,620 in Kiryat Ata, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $938
  • Kiryat Ata $2,620

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,175 in Kiryat Ata, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,426
  • Kiryat Ata $4,175

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,730 in Kiryat Ata, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,914
  • Kiryat Ata $5,730

Chiang Mai is about 64% cheaper than Kiryat Ata, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 30% below the global median, while Kiryat Ata is 94% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kiryat Ata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ฿75.4
$26.30 ₪81.8
-91.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.18 ฿641
$109 ₪340
-82.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ฿187
$19.56 ₪60.9
-71.42%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ฿57.6
$4.55 ₪14.14
-62.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$3.57 ₪11.11
-82.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿11.18
$3.04 ₪9.45
-89.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿78.7
$10.40 ₪32.37
-77.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ฿130
$10.95 ₪34.08
-64.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kiryat Ata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.6
$2.46 ₪7.66
-16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ฿46.70
$3.71 ₪11.56
-62.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.89
$3.86 ₪11.99
-66.84%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.3
$5.10 ₪15.87
-55.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿566
$17.57 ₪54.7
-3.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 ฿91.6
$12.82 ₪39.88
-78.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ฿313
$24.02 ₪74.7
-61.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.3
$4.29 ₪13.34
-44.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ฿33.92
$2.98 ₪9.27
-66.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.9
$2.38 ₪7.40
-32.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$2.49 ₪7.75
-38.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.90
$1.90 ₪5.90
-32.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.22
$1.77 ₪5.49
-37.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.09
$2.36 ₪7.36
-69.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.54
$2.62 ₪8.17
-80.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 ฿145
$13.23 ₪41.15
-67.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.73 ฿593
$15.17 ₪47.21
16.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$3.08 ₪9.58
-47.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.3
$4.83 ₪15.02
-40.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kiryat Ata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.31
$2.54 ₪7.89
-66.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,801
$97.8 ₪304
-44.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.18
$4.35 ₪13.54
-73.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿19.00
$1.13 ₪3.52
-49.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ฿79.2
$19.28 ₪60.0
-87.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$2.64 ₪8.21
-45.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ฿684.3K
$56.9K ₪177.1K
-64.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.1K
$56.7K ₪176.3K
-53.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kiryat Ata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$264 ₪822
-76.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 ฿410
$11.55 ₪35.92
6.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.97 ฿668
$34.87 ₪108
-42.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kiryat Ata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 ฿1,267
$71.6 ₪223
-47.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.76 ฿126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿224
$15.56 ₪48.42
-56.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kiryat Ata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$1,178 ₪3,664
-32.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿495.7K
$31.5K ₪97.9K
-52.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kiryat Ata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$115 ₪357
-53.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.05 ฿837
$70.2 ₪219
-64.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 ฿3,062
$135 ₪420
-32.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,455
$156 ₪485
-52.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kiryat Ata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 ฿15.5K
$1,606 ₪4,998
-71.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ฿10.2K
$997 ₪3,103
-69.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ฿30.6K
$2,264 ₪7,043
-59.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$2,053 ₪6,386
-73.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 ฿63.9K
$9,651 ₪30.0K
-80.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,438 ฿48.1K
$7,478 ₪23.3K
-80.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kiryat Ata
Difference
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: October 13, 2026

Last update for Kiryat Ata: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$305
Kiryat Ata
$997 227% $693
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$238
Kiryat Ata
$453 90.5% $215
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Kiryat Ata
$214 95.5% $105
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$95
Kiryat Ata
$311 229% $216
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Kiryat Ata
$424 437% $345
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Kiryat Ata
$118 92.3% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Kiryat Ata
$103 100% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $1,606 in Kiryat Ata. 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 $109 in Kiryat Ata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $453 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇱 Kiryat Ata
🕒 Local time
15:42 3:42 PM
11:42 11:42 AM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
62,821
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

ILS, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.63 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3.11 ILS (1 ILS = 0.321 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.285 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Kiryat Ata 6,490 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Kiryat Ata

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 Kiryat Ata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kiryat Ata?
Kiryat Ata costs about 179% 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 Kiryat Ata?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,930 in Kiryat Ata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kiryat Ata?
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 in Kiryat Ata?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,178 in Kiryat Ata. 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 Kiryat Ata?
Groceries cost about 90% more in Kiryat Ata, 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 in Kiryat Ata?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Kiryat Ata at $2,620. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kiryat Ata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kiryat Ata?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $938 versus $2,620 in Kiryat Ata. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kiryat Ata?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Kiryat Ata?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kiryat Ata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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