🙂A single person spends $492 per month in Homagama vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $747 per month in Homagama vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,001 per month in Homagama vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Homagama is about 48% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Homagama and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Homagama64% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Homagama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.38LKR 1,439
$2.10฿69.3
108.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.90LKR 8,509
$19.84฿656
30.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.71LKR 2,534
$5.79฿191
33.16%
Cappuccino
$2.48LKR 816
$1.83฿60.4
35.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LKR 226
$0.78฿25.61
-11.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27LKR 88.9
$0.31฿10.37
-12.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29LKR 753
$2.34฿77.2
-2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98LKR 979
$3.70฿122
-19.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Homagama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87LKR 285
$2.03฿67.1
-57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 173
$1.60฿52.7
-66.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.53LKR 174
$1.42฿46.75
-62.68%
Eggs
$1.59LKR 524
$2.18฿71.9
-27.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.15LKR 4,322
$15.91฿526
-17.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.25LKR 1,069
$3.07฿102
5.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.12LKR 2,339
$9.87฿326
-27.86%
Apples(1kg)
$6.95LKR 2,285
$2.63฿86.8
164.26%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84LKR 276
$1.10฿36.19
-23.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.36LKR 1,431
$1.63฿53.8
167.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24LKR 408
$1.53฿50.6
-18.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00LKR 330
$1.24฿41.13
-19.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82LKR 269
$1.13฿37.37
-27.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88LKR 290
$0.74฿24.38
18.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44LKR 145
$0.50฿16.48
-12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.28LKR 3,376
$4.28฿141
140.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.01LKR 3,946
$17.97฿594
-33.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88LKR 618
$1.70฿56.1
10.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19LKR 720
$2.90฿95.7
-24.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Homagama
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47LKR 156
$0.94฿31.13
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.35LKR 116
$1.23฿40.76
-71.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 116
$0.53฿17.66
-33.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.87LKR 284
$2.40฿79.3
-63.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15LKR 377
$1.44฿47.55
-20.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.7KLKR 4.5M
$21.2K฿700.2K
-35.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8KLKR 7.1M
$27.3K฿902.1K
-20.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Homagama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.06LKR 6,921
$64.9฿2,145
-67.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.02LKR 993
$13.35฿441
-77.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.63LKR 6,780
$20.83฿688
-0.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Homagama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.80LKR 2,565
$40.42฿1,336
-80.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.47LKR 1,468
$6.71฿222
-33.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Homagama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.53LKR 12.3K
$787฿26.0K
-95.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,198LKR 393.7K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-92.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Homagama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.97LKR 6,561
$56.2฿1,858
-64.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.29LKR 4,040
$24.95฿824
-50.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$24.15LKR 7,934
$92.7฿3,063
-73.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.98LKR 9,195
$75.1฿2,482
-62.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Homagama
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$140LKR 45.9K
$484฿16.0K
-71.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$60.4LKR 19.8K
$287฿9,491
-78.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$910฿30.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$531฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Homagama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$154LKR 50.5K
$605฿20.0K
-74.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
5.57
127.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Homagama: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Homagama versus $484 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 294% 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 $26.00 in Homagama versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $214 in Homagama vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Homagama 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
Homagama vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Homagama or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Homagama, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Homagama and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $739 per month in Homagama and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Homagama or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Homagama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Homagama and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Homagama and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Homagama or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 13% 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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Homagama or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Homagama, where all-in costs run around $492, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Homagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Homagama or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Homagama costs $492 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Homagama compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Homagama or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Homagama. 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.