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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 36.2% more expensive than Badulla without rent, and 61.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 0.9% more expensive than Badulla without rent, and 54% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$3.93 LKR 1,222
-48.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$25.50 LKR 7,923
-27.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$8.34 LKR 2,592
-10.31%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$2.71 LKR 841
-26.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.70 LKR 216
21.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.38 LKR 117
-7.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$2.31 LKR 718
-4.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$3.26 LKR 1,014
15.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.67 LKR 520
2.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$0.52 LKR 163
213.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$0.72 LKR 223
61.11%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$2.12 LKR 659
-6.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$14.28 LKR 4,438
11.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$4.11 LKR 1,277
-22.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$7.81 LKR 2,428
39.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$7.68 LKR 2,387
-65.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.10 LKR 342
10.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$5.81 LKR 1,804
-70.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$1.21 LKR 375
31.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$1.11 LKR 345
18.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$1.42 LKR 442
-17.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$1.20 LKR 373
-43.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.59 LKR 184
-5.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$9.98 LKR 3,102
-54.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$12.79 LKR 3,976
49.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$2.09 LKR 649
-15.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$2.90 LKR 901
9.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$0.41 LKR 129
231.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$0.33 LKR 101
309.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$0.57 LKR 176
1308.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$1.20 LKR 372
3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$27.3K LKR 8.5M
-22.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$35.2K LKR 10.9M
-38.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$60.1 LKR 18.7K
18.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$4.40 LKR 1,368
220.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$14.98 LKR 4,654
16.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$3.25 LKR 1,010
82.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$36.10 LKR 11.2K
751.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$435 LKR 135.1K
3303.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$27.19 LKR 8,450
104.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$19.11 LKR 5,939
40.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$68.2 LKR 21.2K
22.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$39.39 LKR 12.2K
77.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
12
-58.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Badulla: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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