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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $873 in Qalqilya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,301 in Qalqilya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,730 in Qalqilya, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Qalqilya, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Qalqilya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Qalqilya 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.3

$5.08 ₪15.46

-59.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿625

$22.93 ₪69.9

-18.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.57 ₪23.06

3.83%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.8

$1.40 ₪4.26

45.00%

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

$0.80 ฿26.67

$0.68 ₪2.08

17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.69

$0.61 ₪1.87

-42.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.6

$3.12 ₪9.49

-31.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.44 ₪10.47

6.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.7

$2.13 ₪6.48

-18.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$1.11 ₪3.38

41.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.04

$2.10 ₪6.39

-42.86%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.9

$2.14 ₪6.52

-7.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿542

$5.16 ₪15.71

214.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$7.54 ₪22.96

-59.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$10.63 ₪32.39

1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.5

$1.65 ₪5.03

67.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.18 ₪3.60

-0.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.97 ₪2.94

76.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.42 ₪4.34

11.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.56

$1.08 ₪3.29

28.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.61

$1.37 ₪4.19

-15.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.08

$1.37 ₪4.16

-51.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.33

$0.88 ₪2.67

-40.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$7.16 ₪21.83

-35.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.7

$2.78 ₪8.48

-35.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.49 ₪7.58

34.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.30

$1.25 ₪3.79

-27.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿623

$55.8 ₪170

-66.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.10

$2.49 ₪7.60

-43.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.76

$2.47 ₪7.52

-45.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$14.33 ₪43.65

-43.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.21

$2.00 ₪6.10

-38.50%

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

$21.4K ฿715.9K

$38.7K ₪117.9K

-44.59%

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

$21.8K ฿728.9K

$39.1K ₪119.0K

-44.14%

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

$71.3 ฿2,382

$86.0 ₪262

-17.04%

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

$14.01 ฿468

$16.63 ₪50.7

-15.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿599

$30.44 ₪92.7

-41.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,363

$24.10 ₪73.4

69.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$10.32 ₪31.45

-33.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.24 ₪19.02

-8.33%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$171 ₪520

80.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿490.3K

$2,803 ₪8,538

423.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,863

$43.08 ₪131

29.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿870

$38.82 ₪118

-32.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,833

$73.5 ₪224

15.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,371

$63.1 ₪192

12.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$348 ₪1,059

21.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,098

$239 ₪729

1.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$528 ₪1,610

50.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$312 ₪951

62.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Qalqilya: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $348 in Qalqilya. 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 $23.00 in Qalqilya. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $202 in Qalqilya – so Qalqilya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Qalqilya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qalqilya costs about 2% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,309 in Qalqilya. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $171 in Qalqilya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Qalqilya – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $873 in Qalqilya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $873 in Qalqilya. 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, Qalqilya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.