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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 7.4% more expensive than Badulla without rent, and 66.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 28.5% more expensive than Badulla without rent, and 56.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

$4.08 LKR 1,264

-51.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

$24.71 LKR 7,648

-24.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

$8.57 LKR 2,652

-7.58%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.7

$2.65 LKR 822

-23.77%

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

$0.84 ฿26.45

$0.72 LKR 224

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.07

$0.40 LKR 124

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

$2.31 LKR 716

-3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

$3.39 LKR 1,049

5.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿52.4

$1.62 LKR 502

3.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.1

$0.52 LKR 161

211.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿37.83

$0.73 LKR 227

64.38%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿60.8

$2.23 LKR 691

-13.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.00 ฿503

$14.12 LKR 4,370

13.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ฿99.2

$3.93 LKR 1,216

-19.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 ฿344

$8.09 LKR 2,504

35.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ฿83.8

$7.35 LKR 2,275

-63.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿36.99

$1.08 LKR 333

9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿51.5

$5.64 LKR 1,747

-70.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿49.83

$1.19 LKR 369

33.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.64

$1.16 LKR 360

13.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿37.49

$1.41 LKR 435

-15.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.20

$1.14 LKR 354

-37.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.75

$0.61 LKR 188

-8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿146

$10.03 LKR 3,105

-53.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 ฿596

$13.78 LKR 4,267

37.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.7

$2.07 LKR 641

-14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿101

$2.90 LKR 897

10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.24 ฿605

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.78

$0.39 LKR 120

248.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.37

$0.33 LKR 101

309.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 ฿256

$0.58 LKR 178

1305.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.43

$1.21 LKR 375

0.83%

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

$21.4K ฿671.8K

$26.4K LKR 8.2M

-18.94%

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

$21.7K ฿683.8K

$34.2K LKR 10.6M

-36.43%

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

$70.3 ฿2,210

$60.7 LKR 18.8K

15.83%

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

$13.91 ฿437

$4.31 LKR 1,335

222.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿566

$14.89 LKR 4,610

20.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 ฿1,314

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿180

$3.39 LKR 1,048

68.73%

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

$308 ฿9,693

$36.65 LKR 11.3K

741.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.7K

$439 LKR 136.0K

3270.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,756

$27.12 LKR 8,395

105.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 ฿840

$19.14 LKR 5,923

39.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,658

$70.5 LKR 21.8K

19.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ฿2,227

$38.77 LKR 12.0K

82.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 ฿13.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,439

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿15.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$684 ฿21.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-58.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Badulla: January 13, 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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