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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $508 in Homagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $807 in Homagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,107 in Homagama, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 68% more than Homagama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Homagama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Homagama 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.91 LKR 1,247

-49.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$24.66 LKR 7,863

-23.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.45 LKR 2,694

-6.27%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.72 LKR 866

-29.78%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.68 LKR 217

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.38 LKR 121

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.32 LKR 741

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.25 LKR 1,036

16.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.35 LKR 429

21.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.56 LKR 177

189.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.64 LKR 203

84.37%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.04 LKR 651

-1.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$13.97 LKR 4,455

13.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.07 LKR 1,297

-26.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.96 LKR 2,538

35.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$7.55 LKR 2,407

-65.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.99 LKR 315

23.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$5.96 LKR 1,902

-71.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.25 LKR 399

26.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.15 LKR 367

14.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.98 LKR 312

19.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.19 LKR 380

-43.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.51 LKR 164

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$10.20 LKR 3,253

-55.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$12.77 LKR 4,073

42.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.96 LKR 624

-6.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.30 LKR 734

40.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.49 LKR 156

81.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.39 LKR 123

246.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.35 LKR 112

285.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$0.57 LKR 181

1347.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.25 LKR 399

1.60%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$15.0K LKR 4.8M

41.39%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$23.2K LKR 7.4M

-2.97%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$23.32 LKR 7,437

200.81%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.32 LKR 1,060

314.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$15.29 LKR 4,875

15.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$6.57 LKR 2,097

532.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$3.38 LKR 1,079

95.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$3.29 LKR 1,050

75.68%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$37.35 LKR 11.9K

719.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$443 LKR 141.3K

3246.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$27.74 LKR 8,846

96.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$13.23 LKR 4,220

97.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$26.43 LKR 8,427

219.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$30.62 LKR 9,764

126.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$109 LKR 34.8K

287.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$49.90 LKR 15.9K

377.31%

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 49.3K

310.78%

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 Homagama: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $109 in Homagama. 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 311% 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 Homagama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $246 – 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 Homagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 68% more than Homagama, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $761 in Homagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Homagama, 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 Homagama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $508 in Homagama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Homagama costs $508 versus $852 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 Homagama. 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.