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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $718 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,086 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,454 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$4.35 LKR 1,427

-52.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$24.79 LKR 8,133

-20.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$7.54 LKR 2,473

-25.07%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.51 LKR 823

-27.89%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.68 LKR 224

4.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.25 LKR 81.4

28.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$2.19 LKR 720

2.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.10 LKR 1,018

17.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.31 LKR 430

49.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.57 LKR 186

163.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$0.69 LKR 227

94.20%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.60 LKR 524

41.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$13.31 LKR 4,368

22.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.38 LKR 1,438

-32.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$5.31 LKR 1,742

87.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$6.25 LKR 2,050

-58.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.88 LKR 288

20.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$4.31 LKR 1,415

-62.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$1.19 LKR 390

27.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.93 LKR 306

36.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.75 LKR 246

42.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.89 LKR 293

-19.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.49 LKR 160

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$9.19 LKR 3,017

-54.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$12.48 LKR 4,093

43.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.92 LKR 630

-11.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.81 LKR 923

1.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.31 LKR 102

296.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.37 LKR 122

56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$0.88 LKR 290

175.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.16 LKR 379

21.55%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$30.9K LKR 10.1M

-30.68%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

-34.90%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$45.15 LKR 14.8K

41.02%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$4.29 LKR 1,408

199.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$12.22 LKR 4,009

65.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$14.98 LKR 4,915

158.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$3.10 LKR 1,017

117.42%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$38.65 LKR 12.7K

1912.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$896 LKR 293.9K

1530.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$19.93 LKR 6,540

172.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$16.57 LKR 5,438

53.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$78.7 LKR 25.8K

19.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$41.75 LKR 13.7K

75.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$307 LKR 100.8K

59.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$228 LKR 74.8K

26.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$448 LKR 146.9K

99.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$385 LKR 126.5K

34.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$671 LKR 220.0K

191.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$542 LKR 177.9K

172.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$309 LKR 101.4K

94.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.69

-56.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $307 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 95% 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 $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $219 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 32% more than Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, 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 $1,077 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 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. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte costs $718 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 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.