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: $530 in Badulla versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $845 in Badulla versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,159 in Badulla versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Badulla costs roughly 38% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Badulla 60% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 LKR 1,384

$2.04 ฿68.2

101.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.75 LKR 8,304

$18.71 ฿624

32.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 LKR 2,888

$7.86 ฿262

9.54%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 919

$2.03 ฿67.7

34.98%

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$0.80 ฿26.64

-13.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.35 ฿11.68

17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 799

$2.14 ฿71.5

11.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,112

$3.67 ฿122

-9.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 LKR 542

$1.73 ฿57.6

-6.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 177

$1.57 ฿52.4

-66.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 LKR 228

$1.20 ฿39.99

-43.33%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 734

$1.97 ฿65.8

11.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 LKR 4,687

$16.23 ฿541

-13.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 LKR 1,337

$3.06 ฿102

30.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 LKR 2,764

$10.80 ฿360

-23.70%

Apples (1kg)

$7.30 LKR 2,449

$2.77 ฿92.3

163.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 355

$1.17 ฿38.94

-9.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.91 LKR 1,984

$1.71 ฿57.0

245.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 417

$1.59 ฿53.2

-22.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 390

$1.39 ฿46.51

-16.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 459

$1.16 ฿38.56

18.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$0.66 ฿22.05

75.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 190

$0.52 ฿17.31

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 LKR 3,324

$4.65 ฿155

113.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.40 LKR 4,159

$17.78 ฿593

-30.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 707

$1.79 ฿59.6

17.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 983

$3.34 ฿111

-12.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$1.41 ฿47.04

-70.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$1.34 ฿44.70

-73.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$8.11 ฿270

-92.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 407

$1.23 ฿41.16

-1.63%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

$21.4K ฿715.1K

22.95%

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

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

$21.8K ฿728.0K

59.83%

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

$60.6 LKR 20.3K

$71.3 ฿2,379

-15.03%

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

$4.35 LKR 1,460

$14.01 ฿467

-68.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.30 LKR 5,132

$17.93 ฿598

-14.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 LKR 1,145

$5.72 ฿191

-40.38%

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

$37.15 LKR 12.5K

$308 ฿10.3K

-87.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$443 LKR 148.6K

$14.7K ฿489.7K

-96.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.18 LKR 9,121

$55.8 ฿1,860

-51.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 LKR 6,471

$26.04 ฿869

-25.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 LKR 23.0K

$84.8 ฿2,829

-19.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.49 LKR 12.9K

$71.0 ฿2,368

-45.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,451 LKR 1.5M

$1,918 ฿64.0K

132.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$755 LKR 253.2K

$1,464 ฿48.8K

-48.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$222 LKR 74.6K

$595 ฿19.9K

-62.66%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 168% 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 $251 vs $244 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 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 168% lower in Chiang Mai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $37.15 in Badulla versus $308 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 61% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.