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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 22.3% more expensive than Bandarawela without rent, and 47.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 8.1% more expensive than Bandarawela without rent, and 42.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$4.06 LKR 1,215
-50.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$24.81 LKR 7,413
-24.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$8.58 LKR 2,564
-10.61%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.68 LKR 800
-26.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.7 LKR 208
17.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.4 LKR 120
-17.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.33 LKR 695
-9.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$3.45 LKR 1,030
8.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.73 LKR 515
-5.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.52 LKR 156
201.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.86 LKR 256
38.37%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.22 LKR 663
-10.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$14.3 LKR 4,272
11.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$4.61 LKR 1,377
-32.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$8.24 LKR 2,463
35.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$7.44 LKR 2,223
-62.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.1 LKR 329
10.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$5.88 LKR 1,758
-70.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.21 LKR 362
28.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.15 LKR 344
16.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.4 LKR 418
-13.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.19 LKR 356
-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
$10.23 LKR 3,056
-53.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$14.18 LKR 4,237
29.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.08 LKR 622
-13.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.98 LKR 892
7.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.19 LKR 55.6
394.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$1.66 LKR 495
1038.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.39 LKR 115
264.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.35 LKR 105
285.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$0.51 LKR 153
1439.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.03 LKR 309
21.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$26.7K LKR 8M
-20.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$34.2K LKR 10.2M
-36.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$59.9 LKR 17.9K
17.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$4.37 LKR 1,306
213.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$15.4 LKR 4,601
14.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$5.13 LKR 1,532
711.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.4 LKR 1,016
70.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$37.05 LKR 11.1K
730.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$435 LKR 129.9K
3281.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$27.62 LKR 8,251
100.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$19.5 LKR 5,827
35.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$70 LKR 20.9K
21.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$38.36 LKR 11.5K
87.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$102 LKR 30.3K
327.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$50.5 LKR 15.1K
365.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$134 LKR 40.1K
511.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$66.4 LKR 19.9K
649.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
16.45
-69.60%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bandarawela: October 26, 2025

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