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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 31.3% more expensive than Bandarawela without rent, and 48.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 25.3% more expensive than Bandarawela without rent, and 42.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿63.8
$3.95 LKR 1,219
-48.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿585
$25.36 LKR 7,837
-26.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿235
$8.18 LKR 2,529
-8.56%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿62.8
$2.74 LKR 846
-27.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.63
$0.70 LKR 216
21.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.05
$0.41 LKR 126
-14.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿69.5
$2.38 LKR 735
-7.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿118
$3.30 LKR 1,019
13.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.0
$1.73 LKR 534
-0.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.4
$0.53 LKR 164
207.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.42
$0.86 LKR 266
34.88%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.2
$2.19 LKR 678
-9.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿501
$13.86 LKR 4,282
14.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿99.6
$4.71 LKR 1,455
-32.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿343
$8.18 LKR 2,527
33.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.2
$7.40 LKR 2,287
-64.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.45
$1.06 LKR 328
15.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.4
$5.84 LKR 1,806
-70.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿49.99
$1.24 LKR 384
28.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.63
$1.10 LKR 340
20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.74
$1.40 LKR 434
-16.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.31
$1.15 LKR 354
-40.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.52
$0.60 LKR 186
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿142
$10.10 LKR 3,122
-55.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿600
$12.91 LKR 3,989
47.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.7
$2.10 LKR 648
-15.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿100.0
$2.84 LKR 879
11.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.27
$0.19 LKR 59.2
405.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿594
$1.65 LKR 511
1045.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.69
$0.42 LKR 129
223.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.51
$0.35 LKR 109
285.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿253
$0.52 LKR 161
1444.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.08
$1.02 LKR 316
21.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿665.4K
$26.8K LKR 8.3M
-20.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿684.0K
$34.3K LKR 10.6M
-36.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,240
$59.2 LKR 18.3K
20.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿443
$4.26 LKR 1,315
230.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿549
$15.07 LKR 4,657
15.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,323
$4.87 LKR 1,507
763.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿187
$3.29 LKR 1,016
80.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,664
$37.32 LKR 11.5K
723.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿465.1K
$447 LKR 138.0K
3213.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,750
$27.36 LKR 8,455
103.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿842
$19.73 LKR 6,097
35.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,617
$69.7 LKR 21.5K
19.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,204
$39.49 LKR 12.2K
77.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.4K
$102 LKR 31.5K
318.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,454
$49.49 LKR 15.3K
379.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.2K
$133 LKR 41.0K
504.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.8K
$66.0 LKR 20.4K
662.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿64.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.6K
-
-
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: February 28, 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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