Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Maharagama

For one person, living is cheaper in Maharagama: $131 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Maharagama

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$131

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Maharagama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Maharagama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $131 in Maharagama, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Maharagama $131

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $246 in Maharagama, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Maharagama $246

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $361 in Maharagama, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Maharagama $361

Chiang Mai costs about 616% more than Maharagama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Maharagama 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.7

$5.30 LKR 1,761

-59.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿625

$20.24 LKR 6,733

-8.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$6.67 LKR 2,220

-16.04%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

$2.11 LKR 702

-21.33%

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

$0.65 ฿21.73

$0.64 LKR 213

1.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.24

$0.29 LKR 95.3

3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.7

$0.87 LKR 288

132.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.29

$0.23 LKR 76.1

513.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.75

$0.50 LKR 167

178.00%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.5

$1.42 LKR 474

66.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.98

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.57

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.50

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿602

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.39

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,777

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.52

$0.44 LKR 146

168.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

$0.46 LKR 154

-63.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.47

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

$21.0K ฿705.8K

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

$26.5K ฿890.7K

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

$62.6 ฿2,101

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

$11.60 ฿390

$4.55 LKR 1,514

154.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿682

$13.38 LKR 4,450

51.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,272

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

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

$727 ฿24.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿556.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,798

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿833

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,036

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,418

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

$198 LKR 65.9K

433.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

$240 LKR 79.7K

148.30%

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Maharagama

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Maharagama

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Maharagama

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Maharagama

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Maharagama

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Maharagama

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Maharagama

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 2.5 times higher, 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 in Chiang Mai versus $20 in Maharagama. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $19 in Maharagama – so Maharagama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇱🇰 Maharagama

🕒 Local time

17:29 5:29 PM

15:59 3:59 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

196,400

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.75 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 374 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Maharagama 2,450 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Maharagama

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 616% more than Maharagama, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $196 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $131 in Maharagama. That makes Maharagama about 86% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 1169% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maharagama costs $131 versus $935 in Chiang Mai. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.