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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $502 per month in Ambositra vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $769 per month in Ambositra vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,035 per month in Ambositra vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ambositra is about 45% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ambositra and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ambositra 63% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 MGA 12.1K

$2.11 ฿69.1

33.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.53 MGA 88.1K

$19.75 ฿648

3.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 MGA 24.3K

$5.85 ฿192

-3.25%

Cappuccino

$1.66 MGA 7,123

$1.76 ฿57.8

-5.68%

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

$0.83 MGA 3,580

$0.74 ฿24.37

12.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 MGA 2,021

$0.33 ฿10.90

42.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 MGA 4,394

$2.47 ฿81.0

-58.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 MGA 9,818

$3.88 ฿127

-40.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 MGA 4,652

$1.90 ฿62.4

-43.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MGA 4,565

$1.67 ฿54.7

-36.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 MGA 3,411

$1.35 ฿44.24

-41.48%

Eggs

$2.05 MGA 8,807

$2.14 ฿70.2

-4.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.93 MGA 38.3K

$15.89 ฿521

-43.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 MGA 19.6K

$2.83 ฿92.9

61.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.99 MGA 21.4K

$10.53 ฿345

-52.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 MGA 4,823

$2.38 ฿78.2

-52.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 MGA 2,419

$1.07 ฿35.01

-47.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 MGA 4,622

$1.52 ฿49.79

-28.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 MGA 3,916

$1.50 ฿49.30

-39.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,664

$1.28 ฿41.96

-51.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 MGA 4,106

$1.10 ฿36.17

-12.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MGA 1,529

$0.69 ฿22.54

-47.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 MGA 3,241

$0.49 ฿16.18

55.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.67 MGA 7,155

$4.27 ฿140

-60.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.34 MGA 22.9K

$16.78 ฿550

-68.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MGA 4,375

$1.66 ฿54.4

-38.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 MGA 8,315

$2.81 ฿92.3

-30.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 MGA 14.7K

$1.20 ฿39.24

186.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 MGA 8,892

$0.54 ฿17.78

283.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 MGA 19.8K

$2.37 ฿77.9

94.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 MGA 5,300

$1.43 ฿46.88

-13.29%

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

$12.4K MGA 53.3M

$21.1K ฿691.5K

-41.09%

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

$26.1K MGA 111.9M

$27.1K ฿890.2K

-3.84%

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

$75.4 MGA 323.7K

$64.7 ฿2,124

16.53%

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

$17.68 MGA 75.9K

$13.19 ฿433

34.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.8 MGA 248.1K

$19.44 ฿638

197.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.45 MGA 27.7K

$6.62 ฿217

-2.57%

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

$25.33 MGA 108.7K

$805 ฿26.4K

-96.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.4K MGA 65.9M

$15.1K ฿496.1K

1.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.42 MGA 126.2K

$54.8 ฿1,796

-46.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.88 MGA 123.9K

$25.43 ฿834

13.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MGA 344.0K

$91.9 ฿3,015

-12.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.9 MGA 304.1K

$74.7 ฿2,449

-5.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.75

5.57

182.76%

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

Last update for Ambositra: August 16, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Ambositra versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Ambositra vs $237 in Chiang Mai – so Ambositra 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

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

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 83%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $754 per month in Ambositra and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $502 in Ambositra and $920 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $25.33 per month in Ambositra and $805 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ambositra, where all-in costs run around $502, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Ambositra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ambositra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ambositra. 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.