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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 13.6% more expensive than Matara without rent, and 48.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 10.5% more expensive than Matara without rent, and 44.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Matara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.6
$2.46 LKR 763
-17.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿593
$25.07 LKR 7,788
-25.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿238
$8.24 LKR 2,562
-9.22%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.7
$2.68 LKR 832
-25.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.01
$0.72 LKR 224
18.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.21
$0.41 LKR 127
-14.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.5
$2.35 LKR 732
-5.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$3.32 LKR 1,033
13.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Matara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.8
$1.70 LKR 529
1.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.1
$0.55 LKR 171
196.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.93
$0.87 LKR 269
33.33%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.1
$2.19 LKR 681
-9.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿508
$13.83 LKR 4,296
15.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$4.81 LKR 1,495
-34.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿348
$7.90 LKR 2,454
37.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.3
$7.54 LKR 2,342
-64.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.98
$0.51 LKR 159
139.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.1
$5.67 LKR 1,761
-70.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.7
$0.68 LKR 211
133.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.21
$0.81 LKR 253
62.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.25
$0.52 LKR 163
125.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.61
$1.14 LKR 354
-40.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.76
$0.61 LKR 188
-8.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$10.02 LKR 3,114
-54.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿608
$12.91 LKR 4,011
47.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.4
$2.01 LKR 625
-11.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$2.93 LKR 909
8.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Matara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.70
$0.16 LKR 50.2
500.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿602
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.29
$0.42 LKR 129
223.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.11
$0.35 LKR 110
285.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿256
$0.61 LKR 189
1216.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.62
$1.20 LKR 374
3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿674.7K
$26.8K LKR 8.3M
-20.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿693.5K
$34.3K LKR 10.7M
-36.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Matara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,271
$25.93 LKR 8,057
174.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿449
$4.22 LKR 1,312
233.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿557
$5.05 LKR 1,568
245.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Matara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,341
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿219
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿189
$3.43 LKR 1,066
73.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Matara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,799
$36.66 LKR 11.4K
738.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿471.6K
$437 LKR 135.8K
3284.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Matara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,775
$27.34 LKR 8,494
103.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿854
$19.31 LKR 6,001
38.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,653
$69.6 LKR 21.6K
19.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,235
$38.21 LKR 11.9K
83.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Matara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$165 LKR 51.2K
159.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,559
$116 LKR 36.0K
104.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$511 LKR 158.8K
56.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.0K
$169 LKR 52.5K
198.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Matara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.8K
$98.6 LKR 30.6K
563.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
16.45
-69.60%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Matara: March 1, 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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