Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sri Lanka
For one person, living is cheaper in Sri Lanka: $608 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
Sri Lanka Living Index30Cost of Living Index in Sri LankaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 29.9% more expensive than Sri Lanka without rent, and 49% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 28.2% more expensive than Sri Lanka without rent, and 41.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sri Lanka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$2.76 LKR 913
-22.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$19.14 LKR 6,333
1.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$7.39 LKR 2,446
-25.98%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$2.32 LKR 767
-27.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$0.66 LKR 217
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.29 LKR 95.5
17.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$2.33 LKR 769
3.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$3.05 LKR 1,009
22.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sri Lanka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.59 LKR 527
29.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$0.49 LKR 161
197.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$0.70 LKR 230
92.86%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$1.62 LKR 537
40.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$12.02 LKR 3,976
35.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$4.25 LKR 1,406
-36.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$7.37 LKR 2,439
24.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$5.61 LKR 1,857
-57.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$0.78 LKR 257
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$4.44 LKR 1,467
-63.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$1.26 LKR 416
14.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$0.94 LKR 310
38.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$0.83 LKR 273
33.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$0.81 LKR 268
-13.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.47 LKR 157
8.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$9.95 LKR 3,291
-58.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$11.98 LKR 3,962
48.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.92 LKR 635
-15.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$2.65 LKR 878
8.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sri Lanka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.19 LKR 62.8
352.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$5.95 LKR 1,970
793.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$0.46 LKR 154
165.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$0.34 LKR 114
64.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$0.95 LKR 315
143.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.27 LKR 420
18.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$30.0K LKR 9.9M
-30.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$40.3K LKR 13.3M
-33.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sri Lanka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$46.21 LKR 15.3K
32.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$4.00 LKR 1,324
212.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$16.77 LKR 5,547
21.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sri Lanka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$12.28 LKR 4,063
208.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$6.36 LKR 2,104
-40.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$3.73 LKR 1,233
76.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sri Lanka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$35.47 LKR 11.7K
2082.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$581 LKR 192.1K
2385.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sri Lanka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$20.41 LKR 6,752
168.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$15.50 LKR 5,129
62.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$72.7 LKR 24.0K
24.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$37.40 LKR 12.4K
95.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sri Lanka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$309 LKR 102.2K
48.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$139 LKR 46.0K
111.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$765 LKR 253.2K
20.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$243 LKR 80.4K
126.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$3,632 LKR 1.2M
-47.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$1,134 LKR 375.1K
27.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sri Lanka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$216 LKR 71.5K
174.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.46
-58.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for Sri Lanka: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
Sri Lanka $139 22.7% 52.7% $155
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
Sri Lanka $219 35.7% 7.4% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
Sri Lanka $66 10.7% 40.2% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
Sri Lanka $67 10.9% 28.8% $27
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
Sri Lanka $94 15.3% 21.1% $16
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
Sri Lanka $8.9 1.5% 85.3% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
Sri Lanka $20 3.2% 61.4% $31
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
Sri Lanka $243 18.7% 55.9% $309
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
Sri Lanka $500 38.5% 5.4% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
Sri Lanka $146 11.2% 40.2% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
Sri Lanka $71 5.5% 33.4% $36
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
Sri Lanka $274 21.1% 12.7% $31
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
Sri Lanka $18 1.4% 85.2% $105
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
Sri Lanka $46 3.5% 56.8% $60
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Weather
Population
127,240
21,444,000
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai Sri Lanka 2,450 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- Sri Lanka
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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