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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 13.5% more expensive than Colombo without rent, and 18.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 6.6% more expensive than Colombo without rent, and 16.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Colombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$4.11 LKR 1,229
-50.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$24.76 LKR 7,397
-24.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$8.23 LKR 2,458
-6.80%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.66 LKR 794
-25.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.73 LKR 217
12.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.38 LKR 112
-13.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.38 LKR 713
-10.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$3.28 LKR 981
13.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Colombo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.77 LKR 528
-7.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.53 LKR 158
196.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.85 LKR 255
40.00%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.12 LKR 633
-6.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$13.9 LKR 4,154
15.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$4.78 LKR 1,427
-34.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$8.12 LKR 2,425
37.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$7.6 LKR 2,270
-63.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.12 LKR 335
8.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$5.75 LKR 1,719
-70.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.2 LKR 358
29.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.1 LKR 328
21.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.42 LKR 425
-14.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.18 LKR 353
-38.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.56 LKR 168
-5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$10 LKR 2,987
-52.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$14.18 LKR 4,237
29.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.04 LKR 609
-12.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.83 LKR 845
13.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Colombo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.17 LKR 50.7
452.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$4.98 LKR 1,489
279.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.42 LKR 125
238.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.35 LKR 105
285.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$0.61 LKR 181
1186.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.2 LKR 357
4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$27.3K LKR 8.1M
-22.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$35.4K LKR 10.6M
-38.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Colombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$60.7 LKR 18.1K
16.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$4.24 LKR 1,268
223.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$15.18 LKR 4,535
15.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Colombo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$14.36 LKR 4,291
189.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$7.45 LKR 2,227
-7.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.33 LKR 996
74.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Colombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$36.28 LKR 10.8K
748.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$449 LKR 134.2K
3173.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Colombo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$27.95 LKR 8,350
98.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$19.77 LKR 5,908
33.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$68.3 LKR 20.4K
24.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$38.3 LKR 11.4K
87.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Colombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$373 LKR 111.4K
16.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$173 LKR 51.8K
35.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$943 LKR 281.9K
-12.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$357 LKR 106.7K
39.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$2,329 LKR 695.8K
-6.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,336 LKR 399.2K
15.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Colombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$235 LKR 70.3K
198.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
16.45
-69.60%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Colombo: October 28, 2025

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