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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $132 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $246 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $360 in Maharagama, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 608% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Maharagama 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$5.20 LKR 1,719

-60.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$20.09 LKR 6,642

-2.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.02 LKR 2,321

-19.23%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.13 LKR 705

-15.02%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.61 LKR 201

26.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.29 LKR 94.3

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.90 LKR 297

127.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.25 LKR 82.7

504.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$0.51 LKR 168

174.51%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.44 LKR 476

56.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.45 LKR 148

160.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.48 LKR 159

20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

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

$12.89 ฿429

$4.69 LKR 1,549

174.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$13.87 LKR 4,587

47.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

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

$784 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$200 LKR 66.1K

345.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$248 LKR 81.9K

142.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 143% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Maharagama. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $19.00 in Maharagama – so Maharagama 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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 608% more than Maharagama, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $198 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $132 in Maharagama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1150% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $132, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Maharagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maharagama costs $132 versus $932 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 Maharagama. 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.