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: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $655 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $874 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,093 in Bentota.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 30% more expensive than Bentota, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bentota 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.93 LKR 1,254

-50.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$13.29 LKR 4,239

41.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.57 LKR 2,734

-7.58%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.67 LKR 851

-28.46%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.74 LKR 237

13.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.41 LKR 130

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.30 LKR 735

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.42 LKR 1,090

11.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.78 LKR 569

-7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.53 LKR 168

205.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.88 LKR 281

34.09%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.12 LKR 675

-5.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$13.82 LKR 4,406

14.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.59 LKR 1,145

-16.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$5.13 LKR 1,637

109.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$7.43 LKR 2,368

-64.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.88 LKR 280

38.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$5.76 LKR 1,838

-70.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.02 LKR 325

54.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.15 LKR 366

14.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.36 LKR 434

-13.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.15 LKR 365

-41.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.56 LKR 180

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$9.87 LKR 3,146

-54.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$12.71 LKR 4,052

43.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.00 LKR 637

-8.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.98 LKR 951

8.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.22 LKR 69.6

304.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.41 LKR 132

229.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.33 LKR 104

309.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$0.61 LKR 195

1252.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.20 LKR 382

5.83%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$27.2K LKR 8.7M

-22.26%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

-34.30%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

15.13%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$2.48 LKR 790

455.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$10.09 LKR 3,219

74.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$3.29 LKR 1,049

75.68%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$36.66 LKR 11.7K

735.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$449 LKR 143.2K

3201.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$27.82 LKR 8,870

95.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$19.42 LKR 6,194

34.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$69.1 LKR 22.0K

22.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$38.52 LKR 12.3K

80.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$241 LKR 76.9K

75.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$150 LKR 48.0K

58.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bentota: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $241 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 for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $239 per month, with Bentota 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 Bentota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bentota is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,278 in Chiang Mai and $982 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: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $241 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $655 in Bentota – a 30% 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 30% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.