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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $531 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $866 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,201 in Badulla.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 60% more expensive than Badulla, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.08 LKR 1,300

-51.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$25.24 LKR 8,050

-25.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.16 LKR 2,602

-2.94%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.62 LKR 836

-27.10%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.74 LKR 236

13.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.37 LKR 119

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.36 LKR 752

-6.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.33 LKR 1,062

14.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.66 LKR 530

-1.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.53 LKR 168

205.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.69 LKR 220

71.01%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.15 LKR 685

-6.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$14.31 LKR 4,563

11.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.99 LKR 1,271

-24.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.86 LKR 2,505

37.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$7.67 LKR 2,447

-65.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.06 LKR 339

15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$5.73 LKR 1,829

-70.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.21 LKR 387

30.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.11 LKR 355

18.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.43 LKR 455

-18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.20 LKR 383

-44.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.61 LKR 193

-8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$9.86 LKR 3,145

-54.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$12.64 LKR 4,031

43.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.08 LKR 664

-12.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.84 LKR 905

13.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.39 LKR 123

246.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.36 LKR 114

275.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$0.61 LKR 193

1252.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.20 LKR 382

5.83%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$27.2K LKR 8.7M

-22.18%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$35.0K LKR 11.2M

-35.84%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$60.1 LKR 19.2K

16.70%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$4.20 LKR 1,340

227.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$15.23 LKR 4,857

15.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$3.25 LKR 1,037

77.85%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$36.67 LKR 11.7K

734.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$441 LKR 140.6K

3261.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$28.02 LKR 8,937

94.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$19.70 LKR 6,283

32.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$69.3 LKR 22.1K

22.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$38.65 LKR 12.3K

79.64%

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)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Badulla: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Badulla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $253 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

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

Badulla is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,278 in Chiang Mai and $797 in Badulla to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $306 in Chiang Mai versus $36.67 in Badulla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Badulla – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Badulla 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, Chiang Mai and Badulla 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 Badulla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.