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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $475 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $767 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,059 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 99% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ratnapura 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$2.02 LKR 662

2.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$8.93 LKR 2,930

119.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.99 LKR 1,965

-5.68%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.08 LKR 683

-12.98%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.75 LKR 246

-5.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.44 LKR 144

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.93 LKR 632

16.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.67 LKR 877

35.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.87 LKR 614

4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.75 LKR 245

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$0.65 LKR 214

106.15%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.08 LKR 353

109.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$14.76 LKR 4,842

10.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.35 LKR 2,082

-53.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$15.97 LKR 5,239

-37.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$4.23 LKR 1,389

-39.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.74 LKR 244

43.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$4.17 LKR 1,368

-61.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.95 LKR 312

60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$1.02 LKR 334

24.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$1.42 LKR 465

-24.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.51 LKR 166

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.48 LKR 156

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$12.94 LKR 4,244

-67.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$12.84 LKR 4,213

39.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.12 LKR 695

-20.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.91 LKR 955

-2.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.37 LKR 123

151.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.37 LKR 122

232.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.48 LKR 157

20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.91 LKR 300

54.95%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$19.6K LKR 6.4M

9.39%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$20.0K LKR 6.6M

36.34%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$12.85 ฿423

$2.08 LKR 681

517.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$7.50 LKR 2,460

169.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$9.26 LKR 3,037

318.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$2.44 LKR 802

176.23%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$10.55 LKR 3,461

414.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$7.50 LKR 2,460

239.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$84.4 LKR 27.7K

11.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$25.38 LKR 8,326

189.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$76.7 LKR 25.2K

538.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$54.7 LKR 17.9K

429.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$84.6 LKR 27.7K

511.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$170 LKR 55.8K

254.05%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $76.7 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 254% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $260 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 99% more than Ratnapura, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $713 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 $947 in Chiang Mai and $475 in Ratnapura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ratnapura, where all-in costs run around $475, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Ratnapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ratnapura costs $475 versus $947 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.