Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $527 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $866 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,205 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 64% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$3.96 LKR 1,320

-51.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$25.56 LKR 8,524

-27.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$8.23 LKR 2,746

-4.98%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.67 LKR 891

-26.97%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.68 LKR 228

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.35 LKR 115

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.31 LKR 771

-7.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.42 LKR 1,142

9.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.73 LKR 577

-1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.56 LKR 186

191.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.82 LKR 273

39.02%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.11 LKR 704

-8.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$13.99 LKR 4,665

15.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.78 LKR 1,594

-34.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.22 LKR 2,740

32.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$7.68 LKR 2,562

-64.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.06 LKR 353

14.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$5.65 LKR 1,883

-71.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.25 LKR 418

27.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.10 LKR 368

27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.36 LKR 454

-13.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.19 LKR 396

-44.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.56 LKR 188

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$9.97 LKR 3,327

-52.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$12.95 LKR 4,319

44.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.07 LKR 690

-13.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.89 LKR 963

11.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.41 LKR 137

243.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.33 LKR 109

290.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.60 LKR 201

1206.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.25 LKR 416

1.60%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$26.9K LKR 9.0M

-20.95%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$35.4K LKR 11.8M

-37.34%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$60.7 LKR 20.2K

13.77%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.24 LKR 1,413

232.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$14.98 LKR 4,997

20.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.28 LKR 1,094

80.49%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$36.26 LKR 12.1K

724.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$433 LKR 144.4K

3353.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$27.93 LKR 9,315

95.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$19.54 LKR 6,517

37.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$69.0 LKR 23.0K

23.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$38.15 LKR 12.7K

85.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$212 LKR 70.8K

191.04%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 191% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $258 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 64% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $791 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $26.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $527 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs $527 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.