Cost of Living Comparison Between Nuwara Eliya and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Nuwara Eliya and Chiang Mai

🙂 Solo nomad: Nuwara Eliya is 23.8% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 38.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nuwara Eliya is 0.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 34.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nuwara Eliya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 LKR 1,218
$2.02 ฿65.3
101.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.91 LKR 7,444
$18.78 ฿608
32.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 LKR 2,554
$7.67 ฿248
11.47%
Cappuccino
$2.72 LKR 811
$1.98 ฿64.2
37.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 LKR 219
$0.82 ฿26.64
-10.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 LKR 121
$0.33 ฿10.58
24.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 LKR 681
$2.12 ฿68.6
7.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 LKR 997
$3.73 ฿121
-10.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nuwara Eliya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 LKR 505
$1.64 ฿53.2
3.05%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 LKR 167
$1.57 ฿50.9
-64.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 LKR 242
$1.19 ฿38.62
-31.93%
Eggs
$2.23 LKR 666
$1.98 ฿64.1
12.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.18 LKR 4,237
$15.99 ฿517
-11.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.56 LKR 1,362
$3.12 ฿101
46.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.21 LKR 2,453
$11.16 ฿361
-26.43%
Apples (1kg)
$7.56 LKR 2,258
$2.76 ฿89.2
173.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 LKR 323
$1.22 ฿39.5
-11.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.72 LKR 1,709
$1.71 ฿55.4
234.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 LKR 362
$1.55 ฿50.2
-21.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.1 LKR 330
$1.34 ฿43.21
-17.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.4 LKR 419
$1.21 ฿39.23
15.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 LKR 357
$0.72 ฿23.2
65.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 LKR 165
$0.53 ฿17.05
3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.02 LKR 2,993
$4.72 ฿153
112.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.19 LKR 4,239
$18.39 ฿595
-22.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 LKR 607
$1.79 ฿57.9
13.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 LKR 890
$3.21 ฿104
-7.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Nuwara Eliya
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.9 ฿612
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 LKR 124
$1.42 ฿46.08
-71.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 LKR 106
$1.35 ฿43.53
-73.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.6 LKR 179
$7.85 ฿254
-92.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 LKR 376
$1.25 ฿40.4
0.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K LKR 8M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
26.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K LKR 10.2M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
56.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nuwara Eliya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.1 LKR 18K
$70.6 ฿2,285
-14.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25 LKR 1,269
$13.72 ฿444
-69.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.13 LKR 4,520
$17.56 ฿568
-13.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nuwara Eliya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.64 ฿1,347
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.9 ฿223
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.29 LKR 984
$5.8 ฿188
-43.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nuwara Eliya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.32 LKR 11.2K
$308 ฿9,963
-87.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$443 LKR 132.3K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-96.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nuwara Eliya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.16 LKR 8,117
$55.4 ฿1,793
-50.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.23 LKR 5,746
$26.4 ฿854
-27.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.2 LKR 20.4K
$85.1 ฿2,755
-19.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.18 LKR 11.7K
$71.8 ฿2,323
-45.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nuwara Eliya
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$434 ฿14K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$235 ฿7,610
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$821 ฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$498 ฿16.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nuwara Eliya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$703 ฿22.8K
-
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 Nuwara Eliya: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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