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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 13.6% more expensive than Ratnapura without rent, and 62.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 14.5% more expensive than Ratnapura without rent, and 60.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$2.14 LKR 638
-5.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$10.03 LKR 2,997
87.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$6.79 LKR 2,030
12.96%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.32 LKR 694
-14.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.8 LKR 240
2.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.48 LKR 143
-31.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.14 LKR 638
-0.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$3.09 LKR 923
20.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.96 LKR 586
-16.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.82 LKR 244
91.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.67 LKR 199
77.61%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.19 LKR 356
66.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$16.64 LKR 4,972
-3.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$6.83 LKR 2,041
-54.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$17.57 LKR 5,250
-36.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$4.6 LKR 1,374
-40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$0.76 LKR 228
60.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$4.6 LKR 1,373
-62.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.09 LKR 326
42.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.17 LKR 350
14.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.58 LKR 472
-23.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.53 LKR 158
35.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.52 LKR 155
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$14.66 LKR 4,381
-67.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$13.56 LKR 4,052
35.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.32 LKR 693
-22.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$3.15 LKR 943
1.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.41 LKR 123
129.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.42 LKR 124
238.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.5 LKR 148
170.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$0.32 LKR 95.3
2353.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.02 LKR 306
22.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$21.4K LKR 6.4M
-1.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$22.1K LKR 6.6M
-1.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$2.28 LKR 681
501.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$8.23 LKR 2,459
113.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$10.03 LKR 2,997
315.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$2.65 LKR 791
118.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$11.61 LKR 3,468
377.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$8.44 LKR 2,521
212.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$94.5 LKR 28.2K
-9.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$28.97 LKR 8,657
147.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$83.6 LKR 25K
419.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$60.7 LKR 18.1K
287.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$93.4 LKR 27.9K
433.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ratnapura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$186 LKR 55.6K
278.11%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ratnapura: October 28, 2025

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