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: $920 in Chiang Mai versus $499 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in Chiang Mai versus $821 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,895 in Chiang Mai versus $1,143 in Beruwala.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 84% more expensive than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 33% lower, Beruwala 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$4.20 LKR 1,387

-49.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$25.75 LKR 8,494

-23.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$7.65 LKR 2,525

-23.53%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.39 LKR 788

-26.36%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.69 LKR 228

7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.25 LKR 81.8

32.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$2.17 LKR 716

13.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$3.04 LKR 1,004

27.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.59 LKR 526

19.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.47 LKR 154

255.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$0.75 LKR 247

80.00%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.53 LKR 504

39.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$12.74 LKR 4,203

24.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$4.87 LKR 1,607

-41.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$6.89 LKR 2,272

52.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$6.78 LKR 2,236

-64.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$0.84 LKR 277

27.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$4.56 LKR 1,504

-66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.23 LKR 404

21.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.94 LKR 309

36.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.73 LKR 241

50.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.93 LKR 308

-25.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.45 LKR 148

8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$10.11 LKR 3,334

-57.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$13.21 LKR 4,358

27.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.86 LKR 614

-10.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.55 LKR 842

10.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.41 LKR 135

192.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.34 LKR 113

58.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$0.92 LKR 303

157.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.24 LKR 408

15.32%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$29.6K LKR 9.8M

-28.80%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$39.1K LKR 12.9M

-30.68%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$51.3 LKR 16.9K

26.10%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$4.15 LKR 1,368

217.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$20.72 LKR 6,834

-6.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$4.26 LKR 1,404

55.40%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$37.25 LKR 12.3K

2061.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$1,194 LKR 393.9K

1166.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$19.84 LKR 6,545

175.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$16.66 LKR 5,496

52.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$81.2 LKR 26.8K

13.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$41.37 LKR 13.6K

80.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$151 LKR 49.7K

293.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.69

-56.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Beruwala: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 293% 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: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $26.00 in Beruwala. Groceries flip the comparison at $237 vs $230, with Beruwala 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 Beruwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 293% higher in Chiang Mai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $920 per month in Chiang Mai versus $499 in Beruwala – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $499 in Beruwala versus $920 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beruwala but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Beruwala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 84% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.