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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 22% more expensive than Bandarawela without rent, and 47% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 22.8% more expensive than Bandarawela without rent, and 43.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$4.10 LKR 1,292
-50.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$24.97 LKR 7,876
-26.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$8.14 LKR 2,569
-6.02%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$2.72 LKR 858
-29.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.69 LKR 219
21.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.40 LKR 127
-10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$2.40 LKR 759
-8.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$3.26 LKR 1,027
16.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$1.78 LKR 560
-7.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$0.52 LKR 164
211.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$0.83 LKR 261
38.55%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$2.12 LKR 668
-8.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$14.36 LKR 4,530
11.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$4.58 LKR 1,445
-32.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$8.26 LKR 2,606
34.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$7.47 LKR 2,356
-63.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$1.07 LKR 337
10.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$5.94 LKR 1,874
-71.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$1.26 LKR 398
27.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$1.15 LKR 362
20.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$1.41 LKR 446
-18.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$1.14 LKR 359
-37.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.57 LKR 179
-3.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$10.06 LKR 3,174
-54.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$12.57 LKR 3,966
50.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$2.02 LKR 639
-9.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$2.85 LKR 900
12.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.17 LKR 53.7
417.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$1.62 LKR 511
1066.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$0.39 LKR 123
261.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
$0.35 LKR 112
271.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$0.48 LKR 151
1608.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$1.08 LKR 339
13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$26.4K LKR 8.3M
-19.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$34.8K LKR 11.0M
-35.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$60.5 LKR 19.1K
15.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$4.22 LKR 1,332
233.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$15.24 LKR 4,809
16.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$4.98 LKR 1,570
731.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$3.32 LKR 1,046
72.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$36.58 LKR 11.5K
717.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$438 LKR 138.2K
3327.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$27.25 LKR 8,598
101.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$19.75 LKR 6,232
33.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$68.5 LKR 21.6K
23.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$39.10 LKR 12.3K
78.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$99.0 LKR 31.2K
331.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$51.1 LKR 16.1K
371.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$134 LKR 42.1K
506.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$68.0 LKR 21.5K
632.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bandarawela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
-
-
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: April 14, 2026

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

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