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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $532 in Badulla versus $869 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $854 in Badulla versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Badulla versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Badulla costs roughly 39% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Badulla 60% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 LKR 1,330

$1.98 ฿64.3

101.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.26 LKR 8,427

$18.80 ฿612

34.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 LKR 2,810

$7.75 ฿252

8.65%

Cappuccino

$2.73 LKR 909

$1.92 ฿62.5

42.19%

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

$0.73 LKR 245

$0.79 ฿25.79

-7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.36 ฿11.62

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 LKR 777

$2.21 ฿72.1

5.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 LKR 1,149

$3.66 ฿119

-5.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 LKR 562

$1.65 ฿53.8

1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 172

$1.63 ฿53.2

-68.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 LKR 243

$1.19 ฿38.86

-38.66%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 710

$2.00 ฿65.1

6.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.30 LKR 4,769

$15.98 ฿520

-10.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.01 LKR 1,337

$3.03 ฿98.5

32.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,627

$10.86 ฿354

-27.44%

Apples (1kg)

$7.31 LKR 2,437

$2.76 ฿90.0

164.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 373

$1.18 ฿38.42

-5.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 LKR 1,960

$1.64 ฿53.5

258.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 415

$1.52 ฿49.51

-18.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 370

$1.38 ฿45.10

-19.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 472

$1.19 ฿38.84

19.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 386

$0.70 ฿22.86

65.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.56 ฿18.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 LKR 3,397

$4.58 ฿149

122.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 LKR 4,288

$16.56 ฿539

-22.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 664

$1.83 ฿59.5

8.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 942

$3.20 ฿104

-11.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$1.36 ฿44.16

-71.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 118

$1.34 ฿43.65

-73.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 202

$7.84 ฿256

-92.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.23 ฿39.92

2.44%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

21.48%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

56.03%

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

$60.2 LKR 20.1K

$70.5 ฿2,298

-14.62%

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

$4.23 LKR 1,411

$13.68 ฿445

-69.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.91 LKR 4,974

$17.45 ฿568

-14.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,136

$5.77 ฿188

-41.07%

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

$36.14 LKR 12.1K

$307 ฿10.0K

-88.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 144.3K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-97.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.33 LKR 9,116

$55.8 ฿1,817

-51.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.72 LKR 6,579

$26.21 ฿854

-24.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 LKR 23.1K

$85.8 ฿2,793

-19.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.71 LKR 12.9K

$72.2 ฿2,353

-46.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,516 LKR 1.5M

$1,983 ฿64.6K

127.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$734 LKR 244.9K

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-50.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$218 LKR 72.8K

$619 ฿20.2K

-64.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

140.00%

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

Last update for Badulla: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 184% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Badulla vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $241 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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

Badulla vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Badulla is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chiang Mai earns 184% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $36.14 in Badulla versus $307 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Badulla – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Badulla gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Badulla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Badulla and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Badulla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.