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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $520 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $847 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,173 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 67% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ratnapura 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.21 LKR 733

-12.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$9.89 LKR 3,280

88.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.73 LKR 2,230

16.20%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.39 LKR 791

-18.41%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.82 LKR 272

3.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.52 LKR 172

-32.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.20 LKR 729

-3.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.97 LKR 985

25.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.97 LKR 652

-13.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.86 LKR 284

89.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.72 LKR 240

58.33%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.17 LKR 390

64.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$16.64 LKR 5,518

-2.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.84 LKR 2,267

-54.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$17.39 LKR 5,765

-37.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$4.71 LKR 1,562

-41.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.82 LKR 271

47.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$4.67 LKR 1,548

-65.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.09 LKR 362

45.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.16 LKR 385

20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.50 LKR 498

-22.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.56 LKR 185

17.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.52 LKR 172

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$14.71 LKR 4,876

-68.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$12.45 LKR 4,129

49.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.22 LKR 738

-18.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.12 LKR 1,034

3.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.41 LKR 137

119.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.39 LKR 129

261.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.53 LKR 176

143.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.34 LKR 113

2205.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.07 LKR 353

18.69%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$22.1K LKR 7.3M

-3.61%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$21.3K LKR 7.1M

4.31%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

$2.33 LKR 773

504.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$8.13 LKR 2,697

121.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$10.18 LKR 3,377

303.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.66 LKR 884

122.56%

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$11.76 LKR 3,901

365.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$8.56 LKR 2,838

212.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$93.5 LKR 31.0K

-9.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$28.55 LKR 9,466

147.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$85.0 LKR 28.2K

404.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$59.4 LKR 19.7K

299.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$92.3 LKR 30.6K

458.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$172 LKR 57.0K

259.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $85.0 in Ratnapura. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 259% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $282 in Ratnapura – so Chiang Mai 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 Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 67% more than Ratnapura, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $780 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ratnapura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $520 in Ratnapura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $520 in Ratnapura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ratnapura costs $520 versus $866 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 Ratnapura. 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.