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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 35% more expensive than Kandy without rent, and 59.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 28.2% more expensive than Kandy without rent, and 62% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kandy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$2.73 LKR 816
-26.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$11.86 LKR 3,544
58.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$6.61 LKR 1,976
16.04%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.67 LKR 798
-25.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.59 LKR 177
38.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.3 LKR 89.6
10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.24 LKR 670
-5.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$3.3 LKR 987
13.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kandy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.41 LKR 420
16.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.52 LKR 155
201.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.88 LKR 262
35.23%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.16 LKR 647
-8.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$8.92 LKR 2,666
79.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$4.66 LKR 1,391
-33.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$8.05 LKR 2,406
38.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$4.58 LKR 1,368
-39.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.02 LKR 304
19.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.74 LKR 1,117
-54.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.25 LKR 374
24.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.15 LKR 344
16.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.29 LKR 385
-6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.73 LKR 220
-1.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.6 LKR 178
-11.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$9.03 LKR 2,697
-47.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$12.65 LKR 3,779
45.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.1 LKR 626
-14.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.75 LKR 823
16.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kandy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.18 LKR 53.7
422.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$15.18 LKR 4,536
24.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.41 LKR 123
246.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.33 LKR 97.7
309.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$0.43 LKR 130
1725.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.2 LKR 358
4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$18.1K LKR 5.4M
17.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$21.3K LKR 6.4M
2.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kandy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$40.36 LKR 12.1K
74.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$4.25 LKR 1,270
222.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$15.28 LKR 4,566
14.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kandy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$14.9 LKR 4,452
179.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$5.78 LKR 1,727
19.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.41 LKR 1,019
70.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kandy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$36.45 LKR 10.9K
744.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$321 LKR 95.9K
4482.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kandy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$27.07 LKR 8,088
104.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$14.14 LKR 4,225
86.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$57.1 LKR 17K
49.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$29.89 LKR 8,931
140.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kandy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$133 LKR 39.6K
227.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$84.1 LKR 25.1K
179.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$221 LKR 66K
271.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$165 LKR 49.3K
202.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$435 LKR 130.1K
400.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$443 LKR 132.3K
248.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kandy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$378 LKR 112.9K
86.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
15
-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Kandy: October 27, 2025

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