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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 3.1% more expensive than Badulla without rent, and 65.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 21.7% more expensive than Badulla without rent, and 58.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$4.05 LKR 1,210
-50.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$25.04 LKR 7,481
-25.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$8.52 LKR 2,545
-9.98%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.61 LKR 781
-24.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.69 LKR 208
18.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.4 LKR 121
-17.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.36 LKR 707
-10.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$3.26 LKR 973
14.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.68 LKR 502
-2.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.53 LKR 158
196.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.68 LKR 203
75.00%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.11 LKR 630
-6.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$14.34 LKR 4,283
11.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$3.92 LKR 1,171
-20.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$8.26 LKR 2,469
35.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$7.7 LKR 2,299
-64.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.11 LKR 333
9.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$5.68 LKR 1,697
-69.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.2 LKR 357
29.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.15 LKR 343
16.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.35 LKR 403
-10.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.19 LKR 354
-39.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.59 LKR 178
-10.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$9.99 LKR 2,986
-52.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$14.05 LKR 4,197
30.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.11 LKR 631
-15.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.99 LKR 892
7.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.42 LKR 124
238.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.35 LKR 105
285.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$0.61 LKR 181
1186.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.26 LKR 377
-0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$27.3K LKR 8.2M
-22.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$35.4K LKR 10.6M
-38.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$59.6 LKR 17.8K
18.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$4.41 LKR 1,316
211.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$14.94 LKR 4,464
17.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.26 LKR 975
77.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$36.31 LKR 10.8K
747.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$433 LKR 129.3K
3297.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$27.78 LKR 8,299
99.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$19.1 LKR 5,706
38.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$70.1 LKR 21K
21.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$39.2 LKR 11.7K
83.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Badulla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
-
-
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Badulla: October 28, 2025

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