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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $650 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $877 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $1,104 in Bentota.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 34% more expensive than Bentota, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bentota 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$3.96 LKR 1,323

-50.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$13.18 LKR 4,395

42.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$8.27 LKR 2,759

-6.29%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.64 LKR 879

-27.27%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.73 LKR 243

8.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.38 LKR 126

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.32 LKR 775

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.37 LKR 1,124

8.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.72 LKR 573

-4.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.52 LKR 173

213.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.87 LKR 289

36.78%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.13 LKR 710

-6.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$14.29 LKR 4,768

11.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.70 LKR 1,235

-18.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$4.99 LKR 1,666

117.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$7.69 LKR 2,564

-64.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.88 LKR 292

34.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$5.66 LKR 1,888

-71.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.03 LKR 343

47.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.12 LKR 372

23.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.38 LKR 460

-13.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.20 LKR 401

-41.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.55 LKR 185

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$9.86 LKR 3,290

-53.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$12.57 LKR 4,192

31.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$2.10 LKR 700

-12.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.89 LKR 962

10.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.20 LKR 66.9

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.39 LKR 129

248.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.33 LKR 110

306.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.61 LKR 204

1185.25%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

-20.13%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$34.3K LKR 11.4M

-34.26%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$59.1 LKR 19.7K

19.40%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$2.49 LKR 831

449.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$10.17 LKR 3,392

71.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.40 LKR 1,134

69.71%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$36.38 LKR 12.1K

744.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$441 LKR 147.0K

3215.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$27.48 LKR 9,166

103.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$19.29 LKR 6,436

35.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$69.7 LKR 23.2K

23.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$38.85 LKR 13.0K

85.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$243 LKR 80.9K

77.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$152 LKR 50.8K

56.66%

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

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

-69.60%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bentota: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Chiang Mai and $243 in Bentota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $13.00 in Bentota. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $241, with Chiang Mai cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bentota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bentota is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,303 in Chiang Mai and $975 in Bentota to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Chiang Mai versus $243 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Chiang Mai versus $650 in Bentota – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bentota gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Bentota 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 Bentota 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 Bentota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.