Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Lanka and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in Sri Lanka: $608 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Sri Lanka Living Index30Cost of Living Index in Sri LankaLearn more -
Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Sri Lanka is 23% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 32.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Sri Lanka is 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 29.3% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Sri Lanka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 LKR 913
$2.13 ฿71.4
29.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.14 LKR 6,333
$19.40 ฿649
-1.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 LKR 2,446
$5.47 ฿183
35.10%
Cappuccino
$2.32 LKR 767
$1.68 ฿56.4
38.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 LKR 217
$0.66 ฿22.10
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 LKR 95.5
$0.34 ฿11.52
-14.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 LKR 769
$2.42 ฿81.0
-3.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 LKR 1,009
$3.73 ฿125
-18.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sri Lanka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 LKR 527
$2.06 ฿68.9
-22.82%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 LKR 161
$1.46 ฿48.78
-66.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.70 LKR 230
$1.35 ฿45.09
-48.15%
Eggs
$1.62 LKR 537
$2.27 ฿76.0
-28.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.02 LKR 3,976
$16.31 ฿546
-26.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.25 LKR 1,406
$2.70 ฿90.3
57.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.37 LKR 2,439
$9.20 ฿308
-19.89%
Apples (1kg)
$5.61 LKR 1,857
$2.39 ฿80.1
134.73%
Banana (1kg)
$0.78 LKR 257
$1.04 ฿34.66
-25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.44 LKR 1,467
$1.60 ฿53.7
177.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 LKR 416
$1.44 ฿48.37
-12.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 LKR 310
$1.30 ฿43.59
-27.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.83 LKR 273
$1.11 ฿37.29
-25.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 LKR 268
$0.70 ฿23.55
15.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 LKR 157
$0.51 ฿16.99
-7.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.95 LKR 3,291
$4.13 ฿138
140.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.98 LKR 3,962
$17.78 ฿595
-32.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 LKR 635
$1.63 ฿54.7
17.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 LKR 878
$2.87 ฿96.0
-7.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Sri Lanka
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 LKR 62.8
$0.86 ฿28.76
-77.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.95 LKR 1,970
$53.2 ฿1,780
-88.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 LKR 154
$1.22 ฿40.81
-62.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 LKR 114
$0.56 ฿18.81
-39.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 LKR 315
$2.31 ฿77.5
-58.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 LKR 420
$1.50 ฿50.2
-15.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K LKR 9.9M
$20.9K ฿698.3K
43.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K LKR 13.3M
$26.7K ฿895.0K
50.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sri Lanka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.21 LKR 15.3K
$61.3 ฿2,051
-24.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00 LKR 1,324
$12.50 ฿419
-68.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.77 LKR 5,547
$20.36 ฿682
-17.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sri Lanka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.28 LKR 4,063
$37.94 ฿1,270
-67.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.36 LKR 2,104
$3.77 ฿126
68.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.73 LKR 1,233
$6.60 ฿221
-43.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sri Lanka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$35.47 LKR 11.7K
$774 ฿25.9K
-95.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$581 LKR 192.1K
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-95.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sri Lanka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.41 LKR 6,752
$54.8 ฿1,835
-62.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.50 LKR 5,129
$25.26 ฿846
-38.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 LKR 24.0K
$90.6 ฿3,032
-19.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.40 LKR 12.4K
$73.3 ฿2,453
-48.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sri Lanka
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$309 LKR 102.2K
$459 ฿15.4K
-32.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$139 LKR 46.0K
$294 ฿9,835
-52.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$765 LKR 253.2K
$919 ฿30.8K
-16.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 LKR 80.4K
$552 ฿18.5K
-55.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,632 LKR 1.2M
$1,917 ฿64.2K
89.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,134 LKR 375.1K
$1,445 ฿48.4K
-21.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sri Lanka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$216 LKR 71.5K
$592 ฿19.8K
-63.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.46
5.57
141.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sri Lanka: October 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Sri Lanka $219 35.7%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 8% $17
Accommodation & Living
Sri Lanka $139 22.7%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 111% $155
Eating Out
Sri Lanka $94 15.3%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 17.4% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sri Lanka $67 10.9%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 40.5% $27
Clothing & Footwear
Sri Lanka $66 10.7%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 67.1% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Sri Lanka $20 3.2%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 159% $31
Getting Around
Sri Lanka $8.9 1.5%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 581% $52
Groceries & Markets
Sri Lanka $500 38.5%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 5.7% $29
Accommodation & Living
Sri Lanka $243 18.7%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 127% $309
Eating Out
Sri Lanka $274 21.1%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 11.3% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sri Lanka $71 5.5%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 50.2% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Sri Lanka $146 11.2%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 67.1% $98
Sport & Entertainment
Sri Lanka $46 3.5%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 131% $60
Getting Around
Sri Lanka $18 1.4%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 576% $105
Good to know
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
21,444,000
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Sri Lanka Chiang Mai 2,450 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
- Sri Lanka
- Chiang Mai
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Sri Lanka vs other spots: cost of living compared
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