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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $459 per month in Gampaha vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $774 per month in Gampaha vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,088 per month in Gampaha vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gampaha is about 52% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Gampaha and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gampaha 67% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 LKR 619

$2.08 ฿68.5

-9.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.03 LKR 5,916

$19.64 ฿646

-8.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.25 LKR 1,723

$5.65 ฿186

-7.08%

Cappuccino

$1.25 LKR 411

$1.81 ฿59.3

-30.94%

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

$0.59 LKR 192

$0.71 ฿23.44

-16.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.1

$0.32 ฿10.38

-15.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 LKR 689

$2.24 ฿73.5

-6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 LKR 1,018

$3.63 ฿119

-14.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 LKR 515

$1.96 ฿64.4

-19.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 LKR 147

$1.50 ฿49.38

-70.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 LKR 244

$1.34 ฿43.92

-44.78%

Eggs

$1.58 LKR 519

$2.26 ฿74.4

-30.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.04 LKR 4,279

$16.26 ฿534

-19.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 LKR 1,329

$2.95 ฿97.1

37.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.34 LKR 2,407

$9.94 ฿327

-26.16%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 LKR 2,032

$2.57 ฿84.5

140.86%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 LKR 296

$1.06 ฿34.72

-15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 LKR 1,427

$1.61 ฿53.0

170.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 408

$1.52 ฿49.96

-18.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 336

$1.27 ฿41.76

-19.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 246

$1.07 ฿35.05

-29.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 LKR 94.1

$0.72 ฿23.67

-59.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.51 ฿16.72

-37.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.67 LKR 3,173

$4.19 ฿138

130.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.32 LKR 4,369

$17.87 ฿587

-25.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 LKR 446

$1.69 ฿55.7

-19.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 LKR 807

$2.84 ฿93.2

-13.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 LKR 102

$0.93 ฿30.42

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 LKR 102

$1.23 ฿40.58

-74.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 118

$0.58 ฿18.96

-37.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 288

$2.42 ฿79.7

-63.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 LKR 371

$1.41 ฿46.42

-19.86%

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

$30.5K LKR 10.0M

$21.4K ฿704.9K

42.41%

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

$43.0K LKR 14.1M

$27.3K ฿898.5K

57.27%

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

$27.91 LKR 9,158

$63.7 ฿2,093

-56.16%

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

$3.10 LKR 1,016

$12.85 ฿423

-75.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.96 LKR 3,596

$20.22 ฿665

-45.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.43 LKR 2,438

$38.74 ฿1,274

-80.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$4.44 LKR 1,455

$6.74 ฿221

-34.12%

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

$15.53 LKR 5,094

$778 ฿25.6K

-98.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$120 LKR 39.4K

$14.6K ฿480.2K

-99.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.29 LKR 6,657

$54.3 ฿1,785

-62.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.37 LKR 3,074

$25.45 ฿836

-63.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 LKR 19.8K

$94.3 ฿3,101

-35.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.25 LKR 7,955

$73.4 ฿2,414

-66.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$90.2 LKR 29.6K

$490 ฿16.1K

-81.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$55.6 LKR 18.2K

$289 ฿9,510

-80.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$307 LKR 100.7K

$894 ฿29.4K

-65.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 LKR 54.6K

$517 ฿17.0K

-67.83%

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)

$230 LKR 75.4K

$602 ฿19.8K

-61.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

79.53%

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

Last update for Gampaha: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $90.2 in Gampaha versus $490 in Chiang Mai. 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 162% 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 $18.00 in Gampaha versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $240 – making Gampaha the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Gampaha vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 106% more than Gampaha, 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 $689 per month in Gampaha and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gampaha, 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 $18.00 in Gampaha and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gampaha, where all-in costs run around $459, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Gampaha 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. Gampaha costs $459 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 Gampaha. 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.