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 $881 in Qalqilya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,300 in Qalqilya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,718 in Qalqilya, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Qalqilya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.83 ₪14.40

-59.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$22.48 ₪67.0

-16.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.83 ₪23.35

1.15%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.38 ₪4.13

38.41%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.72 ₪2.13

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.62 ₪1.84

-43.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.18 ₪9.48

-30.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.33 ₪9.92

14.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.06 ₪6.15

-20.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.14 ₪3.40

42.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.12 ₪6.33

-44.34%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.08 ₪6.20

-3.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.99 ₪14.86

218.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.22 ₪21.53

-58.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$10.55 ₪31.44

2.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.63 ₪4.87

60.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.18 ₪3.52

3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.87 ₪2.61

95.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.37 ₪4.09

15.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.05 ₪3.14

25.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.33 ₪3.97

-12.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.37 ₪4.09

-51.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.82 ₪2.44

-31.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$7.44 ₪22.16

-39.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.64 ₪7.87

-30.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.44 ₪7.27

32.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.24 ₪3.69

-28.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$56.2 ₪167

-65.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.58 ₪7.70

-47.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.59 ₪7.71

-47.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$14.18 ₪42.25

-41.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.93 ₪5.74

-34.20%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$38.2K ₪113.9K

-44.65%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$39.1K ₪116.6K

-42.54%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$83.9 ₪250

-16.43%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$16.78 ₪49.99

-17.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$30.94 ₪92.2

-43.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$24.21 ₪72.2

71.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$10.01 ₪29.84

-34.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.29 ₪18.75

-8.11%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$168 ₪501

82.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,761 ₪8,227

437.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$41.59 ₪124

30.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$38.01 ₪113

-31.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$72.7 ₪217

16.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$62.3 ₪186

11.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$350 ₪1,044

20.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$238 ₪708

0.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$516 ₪1,537

59.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$311 ₪928

65.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Qalqilya: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $350 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 $22.00 in Qalqilya. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $196 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 3% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,322 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $168 in Qalqilya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 24% 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 $881 in Qalqilya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $881 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.