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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $517 in Beruwala versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $860 in Beruwala versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,202 in Beruwala versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Beruwala 61% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 LKR 1,386

$2.04 ฿68.4

102.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.13 LKR 8,419

$18.71 ฿626

34.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 LKR 2,745

$7.86 ฿263

4.20%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 891

$2.03 ฿67.9

31.03%

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

$0.69 LKR 230

$0.80 ฿26.71

-13.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.35 ฿11.71

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 797

$2.14 ฿71.7

11.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,108

$3.67 ฿123

-9.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 600

$1.73 ฿57.8

3.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$1.57 ฿52.5

-64.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 275

$1.20 ฿40.10

-31.67%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 718

$1.97 ฿66.0

8.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 LKR 4,747

$16.23 ฿543

-12.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,539

$3.06 ฿102

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 LKR 2,687

$10.80 ฿361

-25.74%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 LKR 2,537

$2.77 ฿92.6

173.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 357

$1.17 ฿39.05

-8.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 LKR 1,982

$1.71 ฿57.1

246.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.59 ฿53.3

-20.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 384

$1.39 ฿46.63

-17.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 477

$1.16 ฿38.67

22.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

$0.66 ฿22.11

81.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 199

$0.52 ฿17.35

13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.23 LKR 3,428

$4.65 ฿155

120.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.48 LKR 4,183

$17.78 ฿595

-29.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 671

$1.79 ฿59.8

11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 LKR 964

$3.34 ฿112

-13.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$1.41 ฿47.17

-72.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 120

$1.34 ฿44.82

-73.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

$8.11 ฿271

-92.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 418

$1.23 ฿41.27

1.63%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

$21.4K ฿717.0K

23.47%

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

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

$21.8K ฿730.0K

58.05%

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

$59.1 LKR 19.8K

$71.3 ฿2,386

-17.13%

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

$4.36 LKR 1,460

$14.01 ฿469

-68.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.22 LKR 5,101

$17.93 ฿600

-15.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 LKR 1,142

$5.72 ฿191

-40.38%

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

$37.04 LKR 12.4K

$308 ฿10.3K

-87.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.0K

$14.7K ฿491.0K

-96.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 LKR 9,240

$55.8 ฿1,865

-50.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.59 LKR 6,565

$26.04 ฿871

-24.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.7K

$84.8 ฿2,837

-16.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.58 LKR 12.9K

$71.0 ฿2,375

-45.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$151 LKR 50.7K

$595 ฿19.9K

-74.56%

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 Beruwala: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 293% 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 Beruwala vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 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

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

Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 293% 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.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $517 per month in Beruwala versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Beruwala 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, Beruwala 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 Beruwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.