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

🙂 Solo nomad: Colombo is 11.9% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 15.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Colombo is 6.2% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 14.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colombo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11 LKR 1,229
$2.02 ฿65.3
103.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.76 LKR 7,397
$18.78 ฿608
31.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.23 LKR 2,458
$7.67 ฿248
7.30%
Cappuccino
$2.66 LKR 794
$1.98 ฿64.2
34.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 LKR 217
$0.82 ฿26.64
-10.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 LKR 112
$0.33 ฿10.58
15.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 LKR 713
$2.12 ฿68.6
12.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 LKR 981
$3.73 ฿121
-12.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 LKR 528
$1.64 ฿53.2
7.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 LKR 158
$1.57 ฿50.9
-66.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 LKR 255
$1.19 ฿38.62
-28.57%
Eggs
$2.12 LKR 633
$1.98 ฿64.1
7.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.9 LKR 4,154
$15.99 ฿517
-13.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.78 LKR 1,427
$3.12 ฿101
53.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.12 LKR 2,425
$11.16 ฿361
-27.24%
Apples (1kg)
$7.6 LKR 2,270
$2.76 ฿89.2
175.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 LKR 335
$1.22 ฿39.5
-8.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.75 LKR 1,719
$1.71 ฿55.4
236.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.2 LKR 358
$1.55 ฿50.2
-22.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.1 LKR 328
$1.34 ฿43.21
-17.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 LKR 425
$1.21 ฿39.23
17.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 LKR 353
$0.72 ฿23.2
63.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 LKR 168
$0.53 ฿17.05
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10 LKR 2,987
$4.72 ฿153
111.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 LKR 4,237
$18.39 ฿595
-22.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 LKR 609
$1.79 ฿57.9
13.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 LKR 845
$3.21 ฿104
-11.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 LKR 50.7
$0.94 ฿30.44
-81.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.98 LKR 1,489
$18.9 ฿612
-73.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 LKR 125
$1.42 ฿46.08
-70.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 LKR 105
$1.35 ฿43.53
-74.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 LKR 181
$7.85 ฿254
-92.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.2 LKR 357
$1.25 ฿40.4
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K LKR 8.1M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
28.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K LKR 10.6M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
62.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.7 LKR 18.1K
$70.6 ฿2,285
-14.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24 LKR 1,268
$13.72 ฿444
-69.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.18 LKR 4,535
$17.56 ฿568
-13.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.36 LKR 4,291
$41.64 ฿1,347
-65.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.45 LKR 2,227
$6.9 ฿223
7.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.33 LKR 996
$5.8 ฿188
-42.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$36.28 LKR 10.8K
$308 ฿9,963
-88.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$449 LKR 134.2K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-96.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.95 LKR 8,350
$55.4 ฿1,793
-49.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.77 LKR 5,908
$26.4 ฿854
-25.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.3 LKR 20.4K
$85.1 ฿2,755
-19.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.3 LKR 11.4K
$71.8 ฿2,323
-46.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$373 LKR 111.4K
$434 ฿14K
-14.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 LKR 51.8K
$235 ฿7,610
-26.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$943 LKR 281.9K
$821 ฿26.6K
14.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 LKR 106.7K
$498 ฿16.1K
-28.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,329 LKR 695.8K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
6.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,336 LKR 399.2K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-13.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$235 LKR 70.3K
$703 ฿22.8K
-66.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.45
5
229.00%

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

Last update for Colombo: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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