Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $734 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,153 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,572 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$4.12 LKR 1,375

-52.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$24.76 LKR 8,258

-24.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$8.48 LKR 2,828

-7.78%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.67 LKR 889

-26.97%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.75 LKR 249

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.38 LKR 126

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.28 LKR 762

-6.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.29 LKR 1,098

13.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.50 LKR 499

14.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.53 LKR 176

207.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.85 LKR 285

34.12%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.13 LKR 709

-9.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.28 LKR 3,429

57.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.55 LKR 1,516

-31.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$5.85 LKR 1,951

86.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$6.17 LKR 2,058

-55.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.11 LKR 370

9.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$5.71 LKR 1,905

-71.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.25 LKR 417

27.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.01 LKR 336

38.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.93 LKR 310

25.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.14 LKR 382

-42.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.50 LKR 166

6.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$8.46 LKR 2,821

-44.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$12.57 LKR 4,191

48.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.47 LKR 489

22.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.81 LKR 604

78.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.32 LKR 106

181.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.23 LKR 3,412

87.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.34 LKR 115

314.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.35 LKR 117

268.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.44 LKR 145

1681.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.27 LKR 422

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

-21.82%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

-35.41%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$30.64 LKR 10.2K

125.42%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.22 LKR 1,407

233.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$14.91 LKR 4,972

20.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$21.06 LKR 7,024

94.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.42 LKR 1,142

73.10%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$36.74 LKR 12.3K

713.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$433 LKR 144.4K

3353.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$28.02 LKR 9,344

95.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$19.05 LKR 6,354

40.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$69.0 LKR 23.0K

23.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$38.31 LKR 12.8K

84.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$335 LKR 111.7K

27.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$254 LKR 84.6K

-6.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$512 LKR 170.8K

56.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$418 LKR 139.3K

23.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$686 LKR 228.7K

187.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$528 LKR 176.1K

179.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$303 LKR 100.9K

104.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $335 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. 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 104% 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 $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $221 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte – so Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 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 Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, 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 $1,100 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $36.74 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $734 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte costs $734 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 Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. 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.