Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Modiin Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Modiin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,653 in Modiin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,972 in Modiin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,292 in Modiin, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 44% cheaper than Modiin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Modiin is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$26.15 ₪79.5

-92.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$103 ₪312

-80.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$19.55 ₪59.4

-71.00%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$5.15 ₪15.67

-64.85%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$3.95 ₪12.00

-80.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$3.18 ₪9.67

-88.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$10.94 ₪33.26

-79.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$10.24 ₪31.14

-62.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$2.51 ₪7.64

-18.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$4.58 ₪13.93

-67.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$3.19 ₪9.69

-56.11%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$5.17 ₪15.70

-56.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$18.13 ₪55.1

-10.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$16.67 ₪50.7

-82.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$25.54 ₪77.7

-63.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$4.83 ₪14.68

-44.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$3.00 ₪9.11

-63.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.56 ₪7.78

-36.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$3.45 ₪10.49

-57.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.71 ₪5.21

-25.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.44 ₪4.37

-26.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$2.46 ₪7.47

-70.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$2.22 ₪6.74

-76.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$14.88 ₪45.25

-71.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$16.33 ₪49.65

12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$3.49 ₪10.61

-53.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.93 ₪11.93

-26.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$2.57 ₪7.83

-65.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$102 ₪310

-47.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$4.37 ₪13.30

-73.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.15 ₪3.51

-49.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$19.58 ₪59.5

-87.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$2.67 ₪8.12

-45.69%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$56.3K ₪171.3K

-62.71%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$57.7K ₪175.4K

-54.21%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$220 ₪670

-71.11%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$11.51 ₪34.99

11.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$35.43 ₪108

-42.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$113 ₪345

-65.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$19.53 ₪59.4

-79.93%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$15.93 ₪48.42

-58.69%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$1,606 ₪4,882

-51.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$31.7K ₪96.2K

-53.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$125 ₪380

-55.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$66.7 ₪203

-62.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$173 ₪526

-45.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$132 ₪403

-44.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$2,429 ₪7,384

-63.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$2,402 ₪7,302

-78.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$9,655 ₪29.4K

-79.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$9,549 ₪29.0K

-84.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$5,979 ₪18.2K

-89.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.84

15.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Modiin: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 894% higher in Modiin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $103 in Modiin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $491 – 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 Modiin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Modiin costs about 77% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,479 in Modiin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,606 in Modiin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 104% more in Modiin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Modiin at $1,653. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Modiin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,653 in Modiin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Modiin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.