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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $515 per month in Weligama vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $830 per month in Weligama vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,144 per month in Weligama vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Weligama is about 45% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Weligama and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Weligama 62% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Weligama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.29 LKR 1,420
$2.08 ฿69.3
106.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.43 LKR 8,408
$19.61 ฿653
29.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.56 LKR 2,501
$5.67 ฿189
33.33%
Cappuccino
$2.52 LKR 833
$1.81 ฿60.1
39.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 LKR 225
$0.77 ฿25.58
-11.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 LKR 89.5
$0.35 ฿11.49
-22.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.29 LKR 756
$2.21 ฿73.7
3.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 LKR 1,013
$3.79 ฿126
-19.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Weligama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 LKR 537
$2.05 ฿68.2
-20.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 LKR 188
$1.51 ฿50.4
-62.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 LKR 267
$1.40 ฿46.57
-42.14%
Eggs
$1.65 LKR 545
$2.26 ฿75.2
-26.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.04 LKR 4,313
$16.19 ฿539
-19.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.12 LKR 1,694
$2.90 ฿96.4
76.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.07 LKR 2,337
$9.42 ฿314
-24.95%
Apples (1kg)
$6.81 LKR 2,251
$2.68 ฿89.2
154.10%
Banana (1kg)
$0.88 LKR 292
$1.09 ฿36.28
-19.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.29 LKR 1,417
$1.62 ฿53.8
164.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 LKR 406
$1.46 ฿48.61
-15.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 LKR 327
$1.28 ฿42.54
-22.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 LKR 264
$1.06 ฿35.21
-24.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 LKR 290
$0.72 ฿23.88
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 LKR 162
$0.53 ฿17.51
-7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.20 LKR 3,374
$4.23 ฿141
141.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.53 LKR 4,473
$18.29 ฿609
-26.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 LKR 652
$1.63 ฿54.3
20.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 LKR 961
$2.90 ฿96.6
0.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Weligama
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.88 ฿29.24
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.8 ฿1,790
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 LKR 139
$1.17 ฿39.04
-64.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 LKR 115
$0.58 ฿19.25
-39.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 LKR 305
$2.39 ฿79.4
-61.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 LKR 446
$1.45 ฿48.28
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K LKR 12.3M
$21.0K ฿699.5K
76.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K LKR 13.5M
$26.4K ฿879.7K
54.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Weligama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.6 LKR 18.4K
$63.7 ฿2,119
-12.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10 LKR 1,356
$12.89 ฿429
-68.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.14 LKR 6,990
$20.52 ฿683
3.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Weligama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$39.02 ฿1,299
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92 ฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.49 LKR 1,484
$6.58 ฿219
-31.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Weligama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$38.14 LKR 12.6K
$784 ฿26.1K
-95.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,218 LKR 402.6K
$14.7K ฿488.4K
-91.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Weligama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.94 LKR 6,592
$55.1 ฿1,835
-63.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.77 LKR 5,544
$24.74 ฿824
-32.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.7 LKR 26.0K
$94.1 ฿3,133
-16.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.64 LKR 13.8K
$74.0 ฿2,462
-43.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Weligama
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$490 ฿16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$288 ฿9,594
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$891 ฿29.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$521 ฿17.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,974 ฿65.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,444 ฿48.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Weligama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$602 ฿20.0K
-
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 Weligama: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Weligama versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Weligama vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Weligama 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
Weligama vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Weligama or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 81% more than Weligama, 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 Weligama and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $773 per month in Weligama and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Weligama and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Weligama 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 Weligama or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 2% 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 Weligama or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Weligama, where all-in costs run around $515, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Weligama 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, Weligama or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Weligama costs $515 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 Weligama 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 Weligama or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Weligama. 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.

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