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: $529 in Beruwala versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $853 in Beruwala versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Beruwala versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,270

$1.96 ฿64.0

103.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.01 LKR 7,975

$18.81 ฿615

32.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.52 LKR 2,718

$7.92 ฿259

7.58%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 865

$1.91 ฿62.6

41.88%

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

$0.68 LKR 216

$0.84 ฿27.41

-19.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 120

$0.35 ฿11.51

8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 767

$2.21 ฿72.1

8.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 LKR 1,061

$3.80 ฿124

-12.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 561

$1.64 ฿53.5

7.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 167

$1.62 ฿53.1

-67.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 259

$1.18 ฿38.62

-31.36%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 705

$2.01 ฿65.8

9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.12 LKR 4,504

$15.89 ฿520

-11.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 LKR 1,454

$3.01 ฿98.5

51.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.96 LKR 2,540

$10.77 ฿352

-26.09%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 LKR 2,444

$2.61 ฿85.5

193.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 340

$1.22 ฿39.88

-13.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 LKR 1,834

$1.70 ฿55.7

238.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 401

$1.58 ฿51.5

-20.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 356

$1.32 ฿43.14

-15.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 430

$1.17 ฿38.23

15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 362

$0.67 ฿21.98

70.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 181

$0.56 ฿18.32

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 LKR 3,181

$4.53 ฿148

120.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 LKR 3,984

$18.20 ฿595

-31.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 673

$1.83 ฿60.0

15.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 934

$3.23 ฿106

-9.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 124

$1.35 ฿44.20

-71.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 105

$1.35 ฿44.05

-75.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 184

$8.25 ฿270

-92.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 382

$1.27 ฿41.64

-5.51%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.4M

$21.2K ฿691.8K

25.12%

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

$34.1K LKR 10.9M

$22.5K ฿735.3K

51.83%

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

$60.2 LKR 19.2K

$70.2 ฿2,294

-14.16%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,346

$13.77 ฿450

-69.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.17 LKR 4,839

$17.60 ฿575

-13.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 LKR 1,062

$5.78 ฿189

-42.39%

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

$36.65 LKR 11.7K

$306 ฿10.0K

-88.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$447 LKR 142.5K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

-96.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.45 LKR 8,755

$54.4 ฿1,778

-49.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 LKR 6,099

$26.14 ฿855

-26.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 22.3K

$84.5 ฿2,764

-17.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.47 LKR 12.6K

$69.4 ฿2,270

-43.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$155 LKR 49.5K

$635 ฿20.8K

-75.55%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 309% 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 $257 vs $243 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 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chiang Mai earns 309% less. 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 $529 per month in Beruwala versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 61% 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 61% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.