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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 32.1% more expensive than Kandy without rent, and 58.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 48.8% more expensive than Kandy without rent, and 58.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.8

$2.74 LKR 852

-25.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿594

$11.56 LKR 3,591

60.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿239

$6.55 LKR 2,036

14.20%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.8

$2.69 LKR 837

-25.65%

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

$0.85 ฿27.08

$0.60 LKR 187

41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.24

$0.32 LKR 99.9

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿70.7

$2.12 LKR 659

4.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿120

$3.44 LKR 1,068

9.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.9

$1.39 LKR 433

23.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿52.2

$0.56 LKR 175

191.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿37.04

$0.85 LKR 265

36.47%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.3

$2.10 LKR 654

-5.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿509

$8.86 LKR 2,754

79.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿101

$4.78 LKR 1,485

-33.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿349

$8.26 LKR 2,567

31.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿84.6

$4.49 LKR 1,394

-40.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.09

$0.98 LKR 306

24.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿54.3

$3.73 LKR 1,160

-54.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.8

$1.26 LKR 393

26.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.33

$1.10 LKR 342

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.36

$1.26 LKR 391

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.67

$0.78 LKR 242

-12.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.81

$0.60 LKR 187

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿144

$9.15 LKR 2,842

-50.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿610

$12.33 LKR 3,832

54.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿56.6

$2.01 LKR 624

-11.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.81 LKR 873

13.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.78

$0.17 LKR 53.0

464.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿604

$14.81 LKR 4,601

27.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿43.41

$0.42 LKR 130

223.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.23

$0.35 LKR 110

285.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿257

$0.44 LKR 136

1725.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.74

$1.21 LKR 377

2.48%

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

$21.2K ฿676.6K

$17.7K LKR 5.5M

19.75%

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

$21.8K ฿695.5K

$21.0K LKR 6.5M

3.47%

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

$71.2 ฿2,277

$40.14 LKR 12.5K

77.48%

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

$14.09 ฿450

$4.23 LKR 1,316

233.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿559

$15.38 LKR 4,781

13.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,345

$15.11 LKR 4,695

178.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿220

$5.60 LKR 1,740

22.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿190

$3.32 LKR 1,033

78.92%

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

$307 ฿9,827

$37.55 LKR 11.7K

718.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿473.0K

$327 LKR 101.7K

4418.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,780

$27.16 LKR 8,439

104.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿856

$14.47 LKR 4,496

85.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,661

$58.0 LKR 18.0K

43.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,241

$29.05 LKR 9,027

141.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$133 LKR 41.4K

220.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,580

$82.5 LKR 25.6K

187.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.6K

$214 LKR 66.5K

274.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿16.1K

$164 LKR 51.0K

206.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.9K

$438 LKR 136.2K

370.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿49.0K

$435 LKR 135.3K

251.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.9K

$267 LKR 82.9K

145.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Kandy: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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