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: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $532 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $854 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $1,177 in Badulla.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 63% more expensive than Badulla, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Badulla 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$3.99 LKR 1,330

-50.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$25.26 LKR 8,427

-25.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$8.42 LKR 2,810

-7.96%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.73 LKR 909

-29.67%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.73 LKR 245

8.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.38 LKR 127

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.33 LKR 777

-5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.45 LKR 1,149

6.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.68 LKR 562

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.51 LKR 172

219.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.73 LKR 243

63.01%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.13 LKR 710

-6.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$14.30 LKR 4,769

11.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.01 LKR 1,337

-24.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$7.88 LKR 2,627

37.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$7.31 LKR 2,437

-62.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.12 LKR 373

5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$5.88 LKR 1,960

-72.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.24 LKR 415

22.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.11 LKR 370

24.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.42 LKR 472

-16.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.16 LKR 386

-39.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.56 LKR 187

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$10.18 LKR 3,397

-55.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$12.85 LKR 4,288

28.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.99 LKR 664

-8.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.83 LKR 942

13.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.39 LKR 130

248.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.35 LKR 118

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.60 LKR 202

1206.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.26 LKR 421

-2.38%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

-17.68%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-35.91%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$60.2 LKR 20.1K

17.12%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$4.23 LKR 1,411

223.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$14.91 LKR 4,974

17.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.40 LKR 1,136

69.71%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$36.14 LKR 12.1K

749.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$433 LKR 144.3K

3276.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$27.33 LKR 9,116

104.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$19.72 LKR 6,579

32.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$69.1 LKR 23.1K

24.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$38.71 LKR 12.9K

86.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$4,516 LKR 1.5M

-56.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$734 LKR 244.9K

102.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$218 LKR 72.8K

183.58%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Badulla: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 184% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Badulla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $252 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 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 184% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $307 in Chiang Mai versus $36.14 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 63% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.