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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $650 in Bentota versus $869 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $877 in Bentota versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,104 in Bentota versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Bentota costs roughly 25% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bentota 52% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,323

$1.98 ฿64.3

100.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.18 LKR 4,395

$18.80 ฿612

-29.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 LKR 2,759

$7.75 ฿252

6.71%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 879

$1.92 ฿62.5

37.50%

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

$0.73 LKR 243

$0.79 ฿25.79

-7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.36 ฿11.62

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 775

$2.21 ฿72.1

4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 LKR 1,124

$3.66 ฿119

-7.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.65 ฿53.8

4.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$1.63 ฿53.2

-68.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 289

$1.19 ฿38.86

-26.89%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 710

$2.00 ฿65.1

6.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 LKR 4,768

$15.98 ฿520

-10.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 LKR 1,235

$3.03 ฿98.5

22.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.99 LKR 1,666

$10.86 ฿354

-54.05%

Apples (1kg)

$7.69 LKR 2,564

$2.76 ฿90.0

178.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 292

$1.18 ฿38.42

-25.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.66 LKR 1,888

$1.64 ฿53.5

245.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 343

$1.52 ฿49.51

-32.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 372

$1.38 ฿45.10

-18.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 LKR 460

$1.19 ฿38.84

15.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 401

$0.70 ฿22.86

71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.56 ฿18.13

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 LKR 3,290

$4.58 ฿149

115.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 LKR 4,192

$16.56 ฿539

-24.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 700

$1.83 ฿59.5

14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 962

$3.20 ฿104

-9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 LKR 66.9

$0.88 ฿28.56

-77.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$1.36 ฿44.16

-71.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$1.34 ฿43.65

-75.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 204

$7.84 ฿256

-92.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.23 ฿39.92

2.44%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

25.20%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.4M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

52.12%

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

$59.1 LKR 19.7K

$70.5 ฿2,298

-16.25%

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

$2.49 LKR 831

$13.68 ฿445

-81.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.17 LKR 3,392

$17.45 ฿568

-41.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,134

$5.77 ฿188

-41.07%

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

$36.38 LKR 12.1K

$307 ฿10.0K

-88.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 147.0K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-96.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.48 LKR 9,166

$55.8 ฿1,817

-50.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 LKR 6,436

$26.21 ฿854

-26.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 LKR 23.2K

$85.8 ฿2,793

-18.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.85 LKR 13.0K

$72.2 ฿2,353

-46.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 LKR 80.9K

$430 ฿14.0K

-43.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 50.8K

$239 ฿7,774

-36.17%

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)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

229.00%

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

Last update for Bentota: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Bentota and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Bentota vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $241 per month, with Bentota 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

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

Bentota is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $975 in Bentota and $1,303 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $243 in Bentota versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $650 per month in Bentota versus $869 in Chiang Mai – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Bentota 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, Bentota 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 Bentota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.