😐A single person spends $2,352 per month in Raanana vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,581 per month in Raanana vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,811 per month in Raanana vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Raanana costs about 173% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Raanana sits 76% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Raanana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.86₪45.12
$1.96฿65.9
658.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.4₪174
$18.35฿617
212.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.68₪47.63
$7.48฿252
109.63%
Cappuccino
$2.58₪7.83
$2.02฿67.8
27.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74₪5.28
$0.85฿28.52
104.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87₪5.68
$0.36฿11.97
419.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.29₪22.14
$2.14฿71.9
240.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.69₪26.41
$3.59฿121
142.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Raanana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76₪5.34
$1.65฿55.5
6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.29₪6.95
$1.57฿52.7
45.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66₪8.08
$1.19฿40.05
123.53%
Eggs
$3.58₪10.86
$1.94฿65.1
84.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.37₪46.68
$16.19฿545
-5.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.71₪29.50
$2.99฿101
224.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.91₪60.5
$10.94฿368
81.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94₪8.92
$2.71฿91.2
8.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91₪5.80
$1.17฿39.27
63.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48₪4.50
$1.69฿56.8
-12.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64₪4.97
$1.60฿54.0
2.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12₪3.42
$1.38฿46.56
-18.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09₪3.32
$1.20฿40.47
-9.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24₪3.77
$0.67฿22.51
85.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03₪3.12
$0.56฿18.74
83.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.71₪29.48
$4.64฿156
109.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.20₪46.18
$17.62฿593
-13.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86₪5.64
$1.86฿62.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18₪6.62
$3.30฿111
-33.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Raanana
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64₪4.98
$0.88฿29.70
86.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.5₪190
$19.34฿651
223.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12₪12.51
$1.36฿45.92
202.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86₪2.63
$1.34฿45.00
-35.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30₪55.6
$8.21฿276
122.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97₪5.98
$1.22฿41.20
61.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K₪111.4K
$21.4K฿718.5K
71.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4K₪116.6K
$22.5K฿758.1K
70.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Raanana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249₪757
$70.7฿2,378
252.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.28₪40.33
$14.04฿472
-5.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.61₪80.8
$17.49฿589
52.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Raanana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.6₪296
$42.15฿1,418
131.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.82₪136
$6.88฿231
551.45%
Cinema Ticket
$11.61₪35.26
$5.92฿199
96.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Raanana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,052₪3,196
$309฿10.4K
241.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,526₪16.8K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-62.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Raanana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7₪239
$55.8฿1,876
41.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0₪185
$26.11฿879
133.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106₪323
$83.0฿2,793
28.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110₪334
$70.5฿2,371
56.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Raanana
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,511₪4,589
$432฿14.5K
249.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,116₪3,391
$239฿8,040
367.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,165₪6,577
$822฿27.7K
163.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,159₪6,557
$512฿17.2K
321.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.6K₪41.5K
$1,915฿64.4K
612.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Raanana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,898₪11.8K
$579฿19.5K
572.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.97
5
-40.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Raanana: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,511 in Raanana versus $432 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 573% higher in Raanana, 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 $57.0 in Raanana versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $243 – 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
Raanana vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Raanana or Chiang Mai?
Raanana costs about 173% 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 Raanana and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,528 per month in Raanana and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Raanana 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 Raanana and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,052 per month in Raanana and $309 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 Raanana or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Raanana, 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 Raanana or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Raanana at $2,352. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Raanana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Raanana or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $2,352 in Raanana. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Raanana 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 Raanana or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Raanana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.