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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $848 in Chiang Mai versus $521 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,331 in Chiang Mai versus $865 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,814 in Chiang Mai versus $1,208 in Beruwala.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 63% more expensive than Beruwala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Beruwala 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$4.14 LKR 1,378

-52.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$24.85 LKR 8,275

-26.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$8.27 LKR 2,753

-4.84%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$2.77 LKR 921

-29.60%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.70 LKR 232

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.37 LKR 125

-13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$2.30 LKR 765

-6.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$3.26 LKR 1,085

12.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.73 LKR 575

-4.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.57 LKR 189

173.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$0.88 LKR 293

35.23%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$2.22 LKR 739

-10.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$14.23 LKR 4,738

14.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$4.74 LKR 1,580

-33.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$8.18 LKR 2,724

32.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$7.63 LKR 2,539

-65.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.11 LKR 371

9.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$5.74 LKR 1,911

-71.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.24 LKR 415

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$1.16 LKR 387

14.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$1.37 LKR 458

-11.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$1.19 LKR 396

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.56 LKR 186

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$10.20 LKR 3,398

-54.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$13.01 LKR 4,332

30.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$2.10 LKR 700

-13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.97 LKR 989

7.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.38 LKR 127

271.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$0.33 LKR 109

306.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$0.57 LKR 189

1328.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.26 LKR 421

1.59%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

-18.58%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$34.6K LKR 11.5M

-35.24%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$59.0 LKR 19.6K

19.48%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$4.35 LKR 1,447

222.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$15.38 LKR 5,123

14.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$3.34 LKR 1,111

78.44%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$37.30 LKR 12.4K

712.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$436 LKR 145.2K

3329.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$27.53 LKR 9,168

98.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$19.52 LKR 6,501

34.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$69.4 LKR 23.1K

23.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$38.76 LKR 12.9K

79.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$148 LKR 49.3K

320.95%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Beruwala: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 321% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $260 per month, with Chiang Mai 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 Beruwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 321% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $848 per month in Chiang Mai versus $521 in Beruwala – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Beruwala 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 Beruwala 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 Beruwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.