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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kandy is 24.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 36.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kandy is 32.8% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 36.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kandy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 LKR 852
$2.03 ฿64.6
34.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.56 LKR 3,591
$18.59 ฿593
-37.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.55 LKR 2,036
$7.48 ฿238
-12.43%
Cappuccino
$2.69 LKR 837
$2.00 ฿63.7
34.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 LKR 187
$0.85 ฿27.01
-29.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 LKR 99.9
$0.35 ฿11.21
-8.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 LKR 659
$2.21 ฿70.5
-4.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 LKR 1,068
$3.76 ฿120
-8.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kandy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 LKR 433
$1.72 ฿54.8
-19.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 LKR 175
$1.63 ฿52.1
-65.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 LKR 265
$1.16 ฿36.93
-26.72%
Eggs
$2.10 LKR 654
$1.98 ฿63.1
6.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.86 LKR 2,754
$15.93 ฿508
-44.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.78 LKR 1,485
$3.17 ฿101
50.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.26 LKR 2,566
$10.90 ฿348
-24.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.49 LKR 1,394
$2.65 ฿84.3
69.43%
Banana (1kg)
$0.98 LKR 306
$1.22 ฿38.98
-19.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.73 LKR 1,159
$1.70 ฿54.1
119.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 LKR 393
$1.59 ฿50.7
-20.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 LKR 342
$1.32 ฿42.21
-16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 LKR 391
$1.17 ฿37.25
7.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 LKR 242
$0.68 ฿21.61
14.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 LKR 187
$0.56 ฿17.76
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.15 LKR 2,842
$4.51 ฿144
102.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.33 LKR 3,832
$19.07 ฿608
-35.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 LKR 624
$1.77 ฿56.4
13.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 LKR 873
$3.18 ฿101
-11.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Kandy
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 LKR 53.0
$0.96 ฿30.70
-82.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 LKR 4,600
$18.90 ฿602
-21.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 LKR 130
$1.36 ฿43.29
-69.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 LKR 110
$1.35 ฿43.11
-74.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 LKR 136
$8.03 ฿256
-94.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 LKR 377
$1.24 ฿39.62
-2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K LKR 5.5M
$21.2K ฿674.7K
-16.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K LKR 6.5M
$21.8K ฿693.5K
-3.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kandy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.14 LKR 12.5K
$71.2 ฿2,271
-43.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.23 LKR 1,316
$14.09 ฿449
-69.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.38 LKR 4,780
$17.47 ฿557
-11.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kandy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.11 LKR 4,695
$42.07 ฿1,341
-64.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.60 LKR 1,740
$6.88 ฿219
-18.60%
Cinema Ticket
$3.32 LKR 1,033
$5.94 ฿189
-44.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kandy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.55 LKR 11.7K
$307 ฿9,799
-87.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$327 LKR 101.7K
$14.8K ฿471.6K
-97.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kandy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.16 LKR 8,439
$55.7 ฿1,775
-51.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.47 LKR 4,496
$26.79 ฿854
-45.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.0 LKR 18.0K
$83.2 ฿2,653
-30.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.05 LKR 9,026
$70.1 ฿2,235
-58.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kandy
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 LKR 41.4K
$427 ฿13.6K
-68.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$82.5 LKR 25.6K
$237 ฿7,559
-65.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$214 LKR 66.5K
$802 ฿25.6K
-73.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$164 LKR 51.0K
$503 ฿16.0K
-67.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$438 LKR 136.1K
$2,061 ฿65.7K
-78.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$435 LKR 135.3K
$1,533 ฿48.9K
-71.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kandy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$267 LKR 82.9K
$654 ฿20.8K
-59.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
5
200.00%

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

Last update for Kandy: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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