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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $398 per month in Negombo vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $648 per month in Negombo vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $898 per month in Negombo vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Negombo is about 57% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Negombo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Negombo 71% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 LKR 1,437

$2.08 ฿69.5

108.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.72 LKR 5,537

$19.61 ฿655

-14.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 LKR 2,562

$5.67 ฿189

36.51%

Cappuccino

$1.29 LKR 426

$1.81 ฿60.3

-28.73%

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

$0.74 LKR 246

$0.77 ฿25.65

-3.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 82.0

$0.35 ฿11.53

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 753

$2.21 ฿73.9

2.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 LKR 1,017

$3.79 ฿127

-19.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 LKR 522

$2.05 ฿68.4

-22.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 LKR 191

$1.51 ฿50.6

-61.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 252

$1.40 ฿46.69

-45.71%

Eggs

$1.66 LKR 548

$2.26 ฿75.4

-26.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.04 LKR 4,317

$16.19 ฿540

-19.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 LKR 1,398

$2.90 ฿96.7

45.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 LKR 2,000

$9.42 ฿314

-35.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 LKR 601

$2.68 ฿89.4

-32.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 LKR 226

$1.09 ฿36.37

-37.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 LKR 737

$1.62 ฿54.0

37.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 402

$1.46 ฿48.74

-17.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 LKR 242

$1.28 ฿42.65

-42.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 247

$1.06 ฿35.31

-29.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 LKR 297

$0.72 ฿23.94

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 160

$0.53 ฿17.56

-9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.21 LKR 3,379

$4.23 ฿141

141.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.48 LKR 4,463

$18.29 ฿611

-26.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 LKR 629

$1.63 ฿54.4

16.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 LKR 918

$2.90 ฿96.8

-4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 LKR 103

$0.88 ฿29.32

-64.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

$1.17 ฿39.14

-67.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.58 ฿19.30

-37.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 LKR 294

$2.39 ฿79.6

-62.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 LKR 348

$1.45 ฿48.41

-27.59%

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

$30.1K LKR 10.0M

$21.0K ฿701.4K

43.13%

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

$42.3K LKR 14.0M

$26.4K ฿882.0K

60.05%

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

$25.91 LKR 8,578

$63.7 ฿2,125

-59.29%

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

$4.26 LKR 1,409

$12.89 ฿430

-66.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.26 LKR 7,040

$20.52 ฿685

3.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.30 LKR 5,065

$39.02 ฿1,302

-60.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.32 LKR 3,087

$3.92 ฿131

137.76%

Cinema Ticket

$2.45 LKR 812

$6.58 ฿220

-62.77%

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

$37.62 LKR 12.5K

$784 ฿26.2K

-95.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$460 LKR 152.3K

$14.7K ฿489.8K

-96.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.89 LKR 2,944

$55.1 ฿1,840

-83.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.80 LKR 5,561

$24.74 ฿826

-32.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.16 LKR 12.3K

$94.1 ฿3,142

-60.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.13 LKR 7,990

$74.0 ฿2,469

-67.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 LKR 59.8K

$602 ฿20.1K

-70.00%

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 Negombo: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 233% 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 $17.00 in Negombo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $241 – making Negombo 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 134% more than Negombo, 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 $598 per month in Negombo and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Negombo 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 25% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Negombo, where all-in costs run around $398, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Negombo 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. Negombo costs $398 versus $932 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 Negombo. 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.