😐A single person spends $1,873 per month in Eilat vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,927 per month in Eilat vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,980 per month in Eilat vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Eilat costs about 116% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Eilat sits 40% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eilat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77₪59.1
$1.94฿63.5
970.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9₪227
$18.64฿609
328.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.30₪40.73
$7.82฿255
82.86%
Cappuccino
$3.93₪11.20
$1.95฿63.8
101.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09₪8.79
$0.85฿27.77
263.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23₪6.36
$0.35฿11.58
537.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.37₪18.14
$2.13฿69.6
199.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.73₪19.17
$3.73฿122
80.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eilat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74₪4.96
$1.71฿56.0
1.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10₪5.97
$1.63฿53.2
28.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42₪6.88
$1.14฿37.15
112.28%
Eggs
$3.64₪10.36
$1.93฿63.1
88.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.93₪39.65
$16.21฿530
-14.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.07₪25.84
$3.12฿102
190.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.41₪55.3
$10.90฿356
78.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62₪10.30
$2.75฿90.0
31.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36₪6.73
$1.21฿39.52
95.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₪5.33
$1.62฿53.0
15.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.31₪6.58
$1.59฿51.8
45.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.63₪4.63
$1.40฿45.70
16.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59₪4.52
$1.17฿38.17
35.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.83₪5.20
$0.66฿21.60
177.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₪3.72
$0.53฿17.22
147.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.10₪25.91
$4.69฿153
94.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.10₪45.83
$18.66฿609
-13.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23₪6.36
$1.80฿58.8
23.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02₪8.60
$3.23฿106
-6.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Eilat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.73₪4.93
$0.90฿29.26
92.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2₪186
$19.21฿628
239.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50₪9.96
$1.41฿45.91
148.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69₪4.81
$1.29฿42.12
31.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.37₪92.2
$7.84฿256
312.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99₪5.67
$1.27฿41.58
56.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.6K₪135.6K
$21.3K฿694.9K
123.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.2K₪128.7K
$22.2K฿725.4K
103.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eilat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178₪506
$69.1฿2,256
157.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.07₪22.98
$14.08฿460
-42.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.56₪64.2
$18.00฿588
25.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eilat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.68₪119
$41.06฿1,341
1.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34₪52.2
$6.96฿227
163.51%
Cinema Ticket
$12.58₪35.81
$5.92฿193
112.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eilat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$926₪2,637
$299฿9,766
209.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.2K₪49.1K
$15.0K฿488.3K
15.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eilat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9₪216
$54.7฿1,787
38.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.76₪142
$26.77฿874
85.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2₪274
$85.0฿2,776
13.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104₪296
$70.6฿2,306
47.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eilat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,197₪3,410
$428฿14.0K
179.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$703₪2,002
$237฿7,752
196.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,804₪5,136
$801฿26.2K
125.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,317₪3,750
$515฿16.8K
155.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.5K₪32.7K
$1,975฿64.5K
481.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,522₪24.3K
$1,475฿48.2K
477.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eilat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,506₪12.8K
$617฿20.2K
629.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.63
5
-7.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eilat: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,197 in Eilat versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 630% higher in Eilat, 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 $80.0 in Eilat versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $246 – 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
Eilat vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Eilat or Chiang Mai?
Eilat costs about 116% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Eilat vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,810 per month in Eilat and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Eilat or Chiang Mai?
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 Eilat and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $926 per month in Eilat and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Eilat or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Eilat, 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 Eilat or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Eilat at $1,873. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Eilat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Eilat or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,873 in Eilat. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Eilat compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Eilat or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Eilat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.