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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 10.6% more expensive than Ratnapura without rent, and 64.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 10.6% more expensive than Ratnapura without rent, and 54.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿63.8
$2.17 LKR 670
-6.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿585
$9.86 LKR 3,046
88.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿235
$6.52 LKR 2,015
14.72%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿62.8
$2.32 LKR 717
-13.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.63
$0.82 LKR 253
3.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.05
$0.49 LKR 151
-28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿69.5
$2.20 LKR 681
0.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿118
$3.04 LKR 940
23.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.0
$1.99 LKR 616
-13.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.4
$0.87 LKR 269
87.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.42
$0.68 LKR 210
70.59%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.2
$1.19 LKR 369
66.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿501
$16.30 LKR 5,038
-2.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿99.6
$6.87 LKR 2,123
-53.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿343
$17.49 LKR 5,406
-37.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.2
$4.73 LKR 1,461
-43.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.45
$0.77 LKR 237
58.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.4
$4.80 LKR 1,483
-64.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿49.99
$1.04 LKR 321
52.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.63
$1.11 LKR 342
18.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.74
$1.51 LKR 466
-22.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.31
$0.57 LKR 175
19.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.52
$0.52 LKR 162
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿142
$14.35 LKR 4,435
-68.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿600
$13.41 LKR 4,143
42.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.7
$2.22 LKR 686
-20.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿100.0
$3.11 LKR 960
2.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.27
$0.39 LKR 119
146.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿594
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.69
$0.38 LKR 119
257.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.51
$0.52 LKR 162
159.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿253
$0.34 LKR 105
2261.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.08
$1.04 LKR 321
19.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿665.4K
$21.7K LKR 6.7M
-2.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿684.0K
$21.3K LKR 6.6M
2.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,240
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿443
$2.30 LKR 712
512.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿549
$7.90 LKR 2,442
121.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,323
$10.14 LKR 3,133
314.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿187
$2.70 LKR 835
120.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,664
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿465.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,750
$11.93 LKR 3,686
366.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿842
$8.30 LKR 2,565
222.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,617
$92.7 LKR 28.6K
-10.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,204
$28.76 LKR 8,887
143.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.4K
$84.3 LKR 26.0K
406.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,454
$61.0 LKR 18.9K
288.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.8K
$94.5 LKR 29.2K
432.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿64.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.6K
$177 LKR 54.8K
268.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: March 3, 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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