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: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $529 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $853 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,177 in Beruwala.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 61% more expensive than Beruwala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Beruwala 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.98 LKR 1,270

-50.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$25.01 LKR 7,975

-24.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.52 LKR 2,718

-7.04%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.71 LKR 865

-29.52%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.68 LKR 216

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.38 LKR 120

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.40 LKR 767

-7.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.33 LKR 1,061

14.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.76 LKR 561

-6.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.52 LKR 167

211.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.81 LKR 259

45.68%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.21 LKR 705

-9.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$14.12 LKR 4,504

12.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.56 LKR 1,454

-33.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.96 LKR 2,540

35.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$7.66 LKR 2,444

-65.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.06 LKR 340

15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$5.75 LKR 1,834

-70.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.26 LKR 401

25.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.12 LKR 356

17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.35 LKR 430

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.14 LKR 362

-41.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.57 LKR 181

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$9.98 LKR 3,181

-54.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$12.49 LKR 3,984

45.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.11 LKR 673

-13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.93 LKR 934

10.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.39 LKR 124

246.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.33 LKR 105

309.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$0.58 LKR 184

1322.41%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.4M

-20.08%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$34.1K LKR 10.9M

-34.14%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$60.2 LKR 19.2K

16.49%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$4.22 LKR 1,346

226.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$15.17 LKR 4,839

16.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$3.33 LKR 1,062

73.57%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$36.65 LKR 11.7K

735.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$447 LKR 142.5K

3218.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$27.45 LKR 8,755

98.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$19.12 LKR 6,099

36.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$70.0 LKR 22.3K

20.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$39.47 LKR 12.6K

75.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

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

$155 LKR 49.5K

308.96%

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 Beruwala: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 309% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $257 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 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 309% 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 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $529 in Beruwala – a 61% 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 61% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.