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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $475 per month in Ratnapura vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $767 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 50% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ratnapura and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 65% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 LKR 662

$2.08 ฿68.5

-2.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.93 LKR 2,930

$19.64 ฿646

-54.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 LKR 1,965

$5.65 ฿186

6.02%

Cappuccino

$2.08 LKR 683

$1.81 ฿59.3

14.92%

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

$0.75 LKR 246

$0.71 ฿23.44

5.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 LKR 144

$0.32 ฿10.38

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 LKR 632

$2.24 ฿73.5

-13.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 LKR 877

$3.63 ฿119

-26.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 LKR 614

$1.96 ฿64.4

-4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 LKR 245

$1.50 ฿49.38

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 LKR 214

$1.34 ฿43.92

-51.49%

Eggs

$1.08 LKR 353

$2.26 ฿74.4

-52.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 LKR 4,842

$16.26 ฿534

-9.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 LKR 2,082

$2.95 ฿97.1

115.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.97 LKR 5,239

$9.94 ฿327

60.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.23 LKR 1,389

$2.57 ฿84.5

64.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 LKR 244

$1.06 ฿34.72

-30.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 LKR 1,368

$1.61 ฿53.0

159.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 LKR 312

$1.52 ฿49.96

-37.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 334

$1.27 ฿41.76

-19.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 465

$1.07 ฿35.05

32.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 LKR 166

$0.72 ฿23.67

-29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 156

$0.51 ฿16.72

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.94 LKR 4,244

$4.19 ฿138

208.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.84 LKR 4,213

$17.87 ฿587

-28.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 LKR 695

$1.69 ฿55.7

25.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 LKR 955

$2.84 ฿93.2

2.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 LKR 123

$0.93 ฿30.42

-60.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 LKR 122

$1.23 ฿40.58

-69.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 157

$0.58 ฿18.96

-17.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 LKR 300

$1.41 ฿46.42

-35.46%

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

$19.6K LKR 6.4M

$21.4K ฿704.9K

-8.59%

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

$20.0K LKR 6.6M

$27.3K ฿898.5K

-26.66%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$2.08 LKR 681

$12.85 ฿423

-83.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.50 LKR 2,460

$20.22 ฿665

-62.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.26 LKR 3,037

$38.74 ฿1,274

-76.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$2.44 LKR 802

$6.74 ฿221

-63.80%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.55 LKR 3,461

$54.3 ฿1,785

-80.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.50 LKR 2,460

$25.45 ฿836

-70.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 LKR 27.7K

$94.3 ฿3,101

-10.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.38 LKR 8,326

$73.4 ฿2,414

-65.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 LKR 25.2K

$490 ฿16.1K

-84.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.7 LKR 17.9K

$289 ฿9,510

-81.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.6 LKR 27.7K

$517 ฿17.0K

-83.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 55.8K

$602 ฿19.8K

-71.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Ratnapura: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.7 in Ratnapura 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 254% 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 $9.00 in Ratnapura versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $260 in Ratnapura vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Chiang Mai 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 99% more than Ratnapura, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $713 per month in Ratnapura and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ratnapura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $475 in Ratnapura and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ratnapura, where all-in costs run around $475, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Ratnapura 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. Ratnapura costs $475 versus $947 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 Ratnapura. 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.