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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $495 in Gampaha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $868 in Gampaha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,241 in Gampaha, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 75% more than Gampaha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Gampaha are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Gampaha 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.63 LKR 539

19.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$25.26 LKR 8,374

-26.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.08 LKR 1,683

53.94%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.22 LKR 735

-12.16%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.70 LKR 232

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.37 LKR 124

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.13 LKR 706

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.64 LKR 545

127.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.73 LKR 573

-1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.52 LKR 173

213.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.73 LKR 244

56.16%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.21 LKR 733

-12.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$14.25 LKR 4,724

13.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.46 LKR 1,478

-30.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.93 LKR 2,631

37.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$6.80 LKR 2,254

-59.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.07 LKR 354

13.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$5.67 LKR 1,881

-71.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.25 LKR 414

27.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.07 LKR 354

30.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.34 LKR 445

-12.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.35 LKR 115

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.38 LKR 126

39.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$10.00 LKR 3,314

-53.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$13.06 LKR 4,332

42.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.53 LKR 508

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.66 LKR 883

21.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.31 LKR 104

190.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.32 LKR 106

340.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.32 LKR 107

303.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.58 LKR 192

1251.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.21 LKR 402

4.96%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

-21.39%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$34.3K LKR 11.4M

-35.15%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$29.59 LKR 9,812

133.42%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.41 LKR 1,131

312.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$12.33 LKR 4,087

45.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$8.60 LKR 2,850

377.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.39 LKR 1,124

74.63%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$16.54 LKR 5,484

1707.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$136 LKR 45.2K

10860.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$28.10 LKR 9,317

94.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$10.08 LKR 3,343

165.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$67.9 LKR 22.5K

25.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$27.03 LKR 8,963

161.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$98.5 LKR 32.7K

334.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$61.5 LKR 20.4K

286.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$341 LKR 113.1K

134.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$187 LKR 61.8K

176.40%

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

$223 LKR 74.1K

176.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-50.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gampaha: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $98.5 in Gampaha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 176% 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 $25.00 in Gampaha. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $243 in Gampaha – so Gampaha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Gampaha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 75% more than Gampaha, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $743 in Gampaha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gampaha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in Gampaha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $495 in Gampaha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gampaha costs $495 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 Gampaha. 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.