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 $530 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $845 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $1,159 in Badulla.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 61% more expensive than in Badulla, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$4.12 LKR 1,384

-50.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$24.75 LKR 8,304

-24.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$8.61 LKR 2,888

-8.71%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.74 LKR 919

-25.91%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.69 LKR 232

15.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.41 LKR 137

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.38 LKR 799

-10.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.31 LKR 1,112

10.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.62 LKR 542

6.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.53 LKR 177

196.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.68 LKR 228

76.47%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.19 LKR 734

-10.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$13.97 LKR 4,687

16.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.98 LKR 1,337

-23.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$8.24 LKR 2,764

31.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$7.30 LKR 2,449

-62.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.06 LKR 355

10.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$5.91 LKR 1,984

-71.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.24 LKR 417

28.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.16 LKR 390

19.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.37 LKR 459

-15.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.16 LKR 388

-43.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.56 LKR 190

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$9.91 LKR 3,324

-53.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$12.40 LKR 4,159

43.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.11 LKR 707

-15.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.93 LKR 983

13.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.42 LKR 140

235.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.36 LKR 119

272.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$0.62 LKR 207

1208.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.21 LKR 407

1.65%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

-18.67%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

-37.43%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$60.6 LKR 20.3K

17.69%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$4.35 LKR 1,460

222.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$15.30 LKR 5,132

17.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.41 LKR 1,145

67.74%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$37.15 LKR 12.5K

729.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$443 LKR 148.6K

3215.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$27.18 LKR 9,121

105.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$19.29 LKR 6,471

34.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$68.5 LKR 23.0K

23.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$38.49 LKR 12.9K

84.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$4,451 LKR 1.5M

-56.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$755 LKR 253.2K

94.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$222 LKR 74.6K

167.80%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Badulla: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 168% 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 $244 vs $251 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 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 168% higher in Chiang Mai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $308 in Chiang Mai versus $37.15 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 61% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.