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Chiang Mai vs Colombo cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇱🇰 ColomboChiang Mai is 23% cheaper than Colombo
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $1,176 in Colombo — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $68.2
Per month
$994 vs $1,176
Local meal
฿ 55 vs Rs 600
$1.67 vs $2
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs Rs 900
$1.58 vs $3
At a glance
FoodChiang Mai 11% cheaper
Cafés & drinkssimilar
TransportChiang Mai 11% cheaper
StayChiang Mai 21% cheaper
FunChiang Mai 38% cheaper
- Where Colombo is clearly cheaper: Transit (67%↓), SIM card (31%↓)
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (52%↓), Taxi (47%↓), Massage (39%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Colombo | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | Rs 600$2 | Chiang Mai −17% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | Rs 270$0.9 | Chiang Mai −16% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | Rs 2,700$9 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | Rs 600$2 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | Rs 750$2.5 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | Rs 2,000$6.67 | similar |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | Rs 90$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | Rs 230$0.77 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | Rs 900$3 | Chiang Mai −47% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | Rs 600$2 | Chiang Mai −11% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | Rs 90$0.3 | Colombo −67% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | Rs 3,000$10 | Chiang Mai −27% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | Rs 12,000$40 | Chiang Mai −24% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | Rs 100,000$333 | Chiang Mai −18% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | Rs 450$1.5 | Chiang Mai −11% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | Rs 1,500$5 | Colombo −31% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | Rs 1,600$5.33 | Chiang Mai −38% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | Rs 4,500$15 | Chiang Mai −39% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | Rs 9,000$30 | Chiang Mai −10% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | Rs 4,500$15 | Chiang Mai −52% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chiang Mai or Colombo?
Chiang Mai is 23% cheaper than Colombo. Daily budget $53.8 vs $68.2; a month $994 vs $1,176.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Colombo?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 and Colombo about $1,176 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.