Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Petah Tikva

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,994 in Petah Tikva, rent and utilities included – about $24,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Petah Tikva, Israel
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Petah Tikva
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,994
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Petah Tikva

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 Petah Tikva actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,994 in Petah Tikva, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Petah Tikva $2,994

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,429 in Petah Tikva, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Petah Tikva $4,429

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,864 in Petah Tikva, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Petah Tikva $5,864

Chiang Mai is about 69% cheaper than Petah Tikva, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Petah Tikva is 121% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Petah Tikva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.6
$24.98 ₪79.9
-91.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿624
$114 ₪363
-83.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿188
$18.76 ₪60.0
-70.15%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.8
$4.94 ₪15.79
-66.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.69
$3.50 ₪11.20
-81.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.22
$3.11 ₪9.95
-90.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿77.9
$10.18 ₪32.54
-77.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
$9.42 ₪30.11
-61.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Petah Tikva
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.6
$2.53 ₪8.10
-20.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.21
$3.21 ₪10.26
-56.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.67
$3.59 ₪11.48
-61.28%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.4
$4.88 ₪15.60
-51.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿554
$17.05 ₪54.5
-3.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.5
$13.96 ₪44.65
-80.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿302
$24.49 ₪78.3
-63.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.4
$4.13 ₪13.20
-41.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.91
$3.20 ₪10.24
-67.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.6
$2.35 ₪7.52
-29.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.3
$2.59 ₪8.27
-39.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.50
$1.90 ₪6.07
-34.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.44
$1.68 ₪5.37
-35.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.54
$1.91 ₪6.11
-60.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.24
$1.77 ₪5.64
-71.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿138
$13.66 ₪43.69
-69.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿601
$15.99 ₪51.1
12.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$3.60 ₪11.52
-55.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.6
$4.09 ₪13.07
-31.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Petah Tikva
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.33
$2.62 ₪8.36
-64.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,773
$72.5 ₪232
-27.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.45
$3.98 ₪12.74
-70.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.75
$0.71 ₪2.28
-76.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.8
$37.42 ₪120
-95.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.38
$2.64 ₪8.44
-44.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿704.5K
$57.3K ₪183.2K
-63.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿889.1K
$55.1K ₪176.0K
-51.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Petah Tikva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,098
$380 ₪1,216
-83.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿389
$11.19 ₪35.76
3.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿681
$40.22 ₪129
-49.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Petah Tikva
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,270
$99.9 ₪319
-62.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
$21.49 ₪68.7
-82.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿218
$14.42 ₪46.10
-54.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Petah Tikva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.4K
$1,382 ₪4,418
-47.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿555.7K
$24.4K ₪78.0K
-32.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Petah Tikva
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,795
$114 ₪366
-53.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿832
$86.4 ₪276
-71.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,031
$167 ₪533
-45.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,413
$158 ₪506
-54.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Petah Tikva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.1K
$1,563 ₪4,997
-69.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$1,251 ₪4,000
-75.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.5K
$2,452 ₪7,839
-56.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.1K
$2,018 ₪6,451
-67.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.1K
$10.4K ₪33.2K
-76.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿53.9K
$8,223 ₪26.3K
-80.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Petah Tikva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$4,471 ₪14.3K
-86.70%
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 Petah Tikva: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Petah Tikva
$1.3K 304% $941
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Petah Tikva
$444 87.6% $207
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Petah Tikva
$237 118% $128
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Petah Tikva
$432 357% $337
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Petah Tikva
$412 438% $335
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Petah Tikva
$91 54.3% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Petah Tikva
$129 153% $78

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $1,563 in Petah Tikva. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Petah Tikva are about 7.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $114 in Petah Tikva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $444 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇱 Petah Tikva
🕒 Local time
02:13 2:13 AM
21:13 9:13 PM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
236,169
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

ILS, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.2 ILS (1 ILS = 0.313 USD). 1 EUR = 3.59 ILS (1 ILS = 0.278 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Petah Tikva 6,510 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Petah Tikva

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 Petah Tikva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Petah Tikva?
Petah Tikva costs about 220% 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 Petah Tikva?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,491 in Petah Tikva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Petah Tikva?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,563 in Petah Tikva.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Petah Tikva?
Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,382 in Petah Tikva. 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 Petah Tikva?
Groceries cost about 88% more in Petah Tikva, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Petah Tikva?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $2,994 in Petah Tikva. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Petah Tikva?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Petah Tikva?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Petah Tikva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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?