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 $649 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $865 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $1,081 in Bentota.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 31% more expensive than in Bentota, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$4.11 LKR 1,381

-50.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$13.59 LKR 4,559

37.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$8.44 LKR 2,831

-6.87%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.66 LKR 891

-23.68%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.73 LKR 246

9.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.38 LKR 127

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.38 LKR 797

-10.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.32 LKR 1,113

10.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.78 LKR 597

-2.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.53 LKR 178

196.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.81 LKR 272

48.15%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.22 LKR 745

-11.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$13.88 LKR 4,657

16.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.75 LKR 1,259

-18.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$5.08 LKR 1,704

112.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$7.50 LKR 2,517

-63.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.87 LKR 291

34.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$5.89 LKR 1,975

-70.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.03 LKR 345

54.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.15 LKR 387

20.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.41 LKR 472

-17.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.20 LKR 404

-45.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.56 LKR 189

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$10.10 LKR 3,388

-53.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$12.86 LKR 4,315

38.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.01 LKR 675

-10.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.95 LKR 990

13.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.20 LKR 68.5

355.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.41 LKR 139

243.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.35 LKR 119

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$0.58 LKR 194

1298.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.24 LKR 417

-0.81%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

-18.35%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$34.1K LKR 11.5M

-36.08%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$61.1 LKR 20.5K

16.74%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$2.49 LKR 834

462.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$9.93 LKR 3,332

80.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.40 LKR 1,142

68.24%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$36.38 LKR 12.2K

747.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$439 LKR 147.4K

3242.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$27.79 LKR 9,326

100.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$19.16 LKR 6,430

35.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$69.0 LKR 23.2K

22.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$38.05 LKR 12.8K

86.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$241 LKR 80.9K

75.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$153 LKR 51.4K

58.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bentota: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 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 $14.00 in Bentota for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $242 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 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,279 in Chiang Mai and $974 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: $423 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 1% 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 $649 in Bentota – a 31% 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 31% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.