Moving to Israel from Thailand

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Thailand to Israel? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Thailand to Israel, you would find that Israel is 2.5 times more expensive than Thailand overall. A THB2,497,395 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly ₪443,640 in Israel to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Hebrew. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Jerusalem averages 72°F vs 91°F in Bangkok, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Thailand and Israel.

What does your salary buy?

THB2,497,395 ₪443,640

To maintain the same standard of living in Israel

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 5.2 times more

Groceries

pay 59.8% more

Transportation

pay 69.3% more

Housing

pay 2.8 times more

Childcare

pay 97.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.5 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 THB = 0.0904 ILS (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Israel cost about 98% more than cities in Thailand.

Thailand

Koh Samui 36%
Hua Hin 30%

Israel

Ashqelon 68%
Holon 65%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Israel

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Thailand to Israel.

Moved in 2023
16 ↑ 60% vs 2022

people moved from Thailand to Israel · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Israel?

Top countries of origin for Israel's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Israel compared to Thailand.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

TH
4.8
IL
1.6
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

TH
67%
IL
80%

Israel performs significantly better than Thailand across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

TH
$1,067
IL
$4,033
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

TH
9.3
IL
37.1

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Thailand leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

TH
29.0
IL
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TH
4.0t
IL
5.8t

Thailand generally does better on environment, though Israel leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TH
17.5
IL
29.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TH
23.0%
IL
132.0%

Israel generally does better on infrastructure, though Thailand leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TH
0.9%
IL
3.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TH
$21,100
IL
$48,300

Thailand generally does better on employment & economy, though Israel leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TH
77.7 yrs
IL
83.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TH
6.5
IL
3.6

Israel performs significantly better than Thailand across all family life metrics.

Data: The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bangkok Rain: 59.0 in/yr (1498 mm)
91° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Jerusalem Rain: 21.1 in/yr (537 mm)
72° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bangkok Jerusalem
Jan–Mar 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) 58°/46°F (15°/8°C)
Apr–Jun 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) 78°/60°F (25°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) 85°/67°F (29°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) 68°/55°F (20°/13°C)
View all months
Month Bangkok Jerusalem
Jan 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C)
Feb 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C)
Mar 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C)
Apr 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C)
May 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C)
Jun 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C)
Jul 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C)
Aug 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C)
Sep 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C)
Oct 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C)
Nov 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C)
Dec 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C)

Data: Thai Meteorological Department Thai Meteorological Department, Israel Meteorological Service Israel Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand and Israel. To live, work, or study long-term in Israel, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Israel's immigration authority.

Thailand passport

Thailand passport holder visiting Israel

Visa Required
Thailand passport holders need a visa to enter Israel.
Israel passport

Israel passport holder visiting Thailand

Visa Free
Israel passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Israel than Thailand?

On average Israel is around 96% pricier than Thailand, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Israel?

Budget about ₪110,910 for 3 months in Israel (based on a THB2,497,395 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Israel?

Connectivity is usually fine (Israel: 29.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Israel offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Israel safe for expats?

Israel performs significantly better than Thailand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Israel is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand. About 80% of people in Israel feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Israel compared to Thailand?

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Thailand leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 37.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Israel, compared to 9.3 in Thailand. Israel scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).

What's the weather like in Israel compared to Thailand?

The average high temperature in Jerusalem is 72°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Jerusalem receives around 21.1 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.

What language do they speak in Israel?

The official languages in Israel are Arabic and Hebrew. In Thailand, the official language is Thai.

Share this

At a Glance

TH IL
Population 69,648,117 8,914,885
Currency Thai Baht (THB) Israeli New Sheqel (₪)
Languages Thai Arabic, Hebrew
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +66 +972
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191 100