🙂A single person spends $575 per month in Piliyandala vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $905 per month in Piliyandala vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,236 per month in Piliyandala vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Piliyandala is about 38% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Piliyandala and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Piliyandala58% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Piliyandala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99LKR 989
$2.08฿69.3
43.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.31LKR 4,070
$19.61฿653
-37.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.69LKR 2,542
$5.67฿189
35.63%
Cappuccino
$2.56LKR 845
$1.81฿60.1
41.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68LKR 225
$0.77฿25.58
-11.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 82.2
$0.35฿11.49
-28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84LKR 607
$2.21฿73.7
-16.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02LKR 999
$3.79฿126
-20.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Piliyandala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63LKR 540
$2.05฿68.2
-20.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 176
$1.51฿50.4
-64.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.74LKR 243
$1.40฿46.57
-47.14%
Eggs
$1.65LKR 546
$2.26฿75.2
-26.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.97LKR 4,287
$16.19฿539
-19.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.97LKR 1,644
$2.90฿96.4
71.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.43LKR 2,457
$9.42฿314
-21.13%
Apples(1kg)
$6.87LKR 2,271
$2.68฿89.2
156.34%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88LKR 292
$1.09฿36.28
-19.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.25LKR 1,406
$1.62฿53.8
162.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30LKR 428
$1.46฿48.61
-10.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98LKR 325
$1.28฿42.54
-23.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76LKR 252
$1.06฿35.21
-28.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95LKR 314
$0.72฿23.88
31.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48LKR 160
$0.53฿17.51
-9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.50LKR 3,471
$4.23฿141
148.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.84LKR 4,578
$18.29฿609
-24.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00LKR 661
$1.63฿54.3
22.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78LKR 921
$2.90฿96.6
-4.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Piliyandala
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35LKR 115
$0.88฿29.24
-60.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,790
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38LKR 127
$1.17฿39.04
-67.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29LKR 95.3
$0.58฿19.25
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.89LKR 294
$2.39฿79.4
-62.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34LKR 443
$1.45฿48.28
-7.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8KLKR 12.5M
$21.0K฿699.5K
79.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0KLKR 13.6M
$26.4K฿879.7K
55.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Piliyandala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.1LKR 17.9K
$63.7฿2,119
-14.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22LKR 1,397
$12.89฿429
-67.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.81LKR 6,881
$20.52฿683
1.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Piliyandala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.02฿1,299
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.32LKR 1,429
$6.58฿219
-34.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Piliyandala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.80LKR 12.5K
$784฿26.1K
-95.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,234LKR 408.2K
$14.7K฿488.4K
-91.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Piliyandala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.90LKR 6,581
$55.1฿1,835
-63.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.80LKR 5,556
$24.74฿824
-32.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.0LKR 26.8K
$94.1฿3,133
-13.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.20LKR 14.3K
$74.0฿2,462
-41.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Piliyandala
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$106LKR 34.9K
$490฿16.3K
-78.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$76.8LKR 25.4K
$288฿9,594
-73.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261LKR 86.2K
$891฿29.7K
-70.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179LKR 59.2K
$521฿17.3K
-65.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Piliyandala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$300LKR 99.1K
$602฿20.0K
-50.16%
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 Piliyandala: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $106 in Piliyandala 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 101% 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 $12.00 in Piliyandala versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $241 – making Piliyandala 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
Piliyandala vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Piliyandala or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 62% more than Piliyandala, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Piliyandala and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $862 per month in Piliyandala and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Piliyandala or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Piliyandala, 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 Piliyandala and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Piliyandala 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 Piliyandala or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 1% 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 $2,000/month in Piliyandala or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Piliyandala, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Piliyandala 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, Piliyandala or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Piliyandala costs $575 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Piliyandala 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 Piliyandala or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Piliyandala. 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.
Piliyandala vs other spots: cost of living compared