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 $490 per month in Ambositra vs $906 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $745 per month in Ambositra vs $1,385 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,000 per month in Ambositra vs $1,864 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ambositra is about 46% 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 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.69 MGA 12.0K

$2.13 ฿71.8

26.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.82 MGA 92.6K

$19.40 ฿653

7.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 MGA 25.7K

$5.47 ฿184

5.85%

Cappuccino

$1.65 MGA 7,330

$1.68 ฿56.7

-1.79%

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

$0.82 MGA 3,660

$0.66 ฿22.22

24.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MGA 2,007

$0.34 ฿11.58

32.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 MGA 4,519

$2.42 ฿81.5

-57.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 MGA 9,944

$3.73 ฿126

-39.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 MGA 4,615

$2.06 ฿69.3

-49.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MGA 4,510

$1.46 ฿49.06

-30.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 MGA 3,217

$1.35 ฿45.34

-46.67%

Eggs

$2.01 MGA 8,948

$2.27 ฿76.4

-11.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MGA 37.7K

$16.31 ฿549

-47.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 MGA 19.7K

$2.70 ฿90.8

64.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.02 MGA 22.3K

$9.20 ฿310

-45.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 MGA 4,709

$2.39 ฿80.6

-55.65%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,414

$1.04 ฿34.85

-48.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 MGA 4,737

$1.60 ฿54.0

-33.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 MGA 3,995

$1.44 ฿48.64

-37.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 MGA 2,682

$1.30 ฿43.84

-53.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MGA 4,398

$1.11 ฿37.50

-10.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 MGA 1,466

$0.70 ฿23.69

-52.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MGA 3,023

$0.51 ฿17.09

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.62 MGA 7,222

$4.13 ฿139

-60.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.03 MGA 22.4K

$17.78 ฿599

-71.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MGA 4,606

$1.63 ฿55.0

-36.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 MGA 8,056

$2.87 ฿96.6

-36.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 MGA 15.0K

$1.22 ฿41.05

177.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 MGA 8,939

$0.56 ฿18.92

258.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.57 MGA 20.3K

$2.31 ฿77.9

97.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 MGA 5,023

$1.50 ฿50.5

-24.67%

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

$11.9K MGA 53.1M

$20.9K ฿702.3K

-42.72%

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

$25.6K MGA 113.9M

$26.7K ฿900.1K

-4.20%

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

$76.0 MGA 337.8K

$61.3 ฿2,063

24.05%

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

$17.22 MGA 76.6K

$12.50 ฿421

37.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 MGA 259.1K

$20.36 ฿686

186.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,277

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$5.65 MGA 25.1K

$6.60 ฿222

-14.39%

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

$25.50 MGA 113.4K

$774 ฿26.1K

-96.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K MGA 66.3M

$14.4K ฿486.0K

3.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.78 MGA 127.9K

$54.8 ฿1,845

-47.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.22 MGA 125.5K

$25.26 ฿851

11.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 MGA 343.9K

$90.6 ฿3,049

-14.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.2 MGA 311.9K

$73.3 ฿2,467

-4.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ฿15.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,891

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 ฿30.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.9K

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: October 4, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Ambositra versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $144 in Ambositra vs $236 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 85%, 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 $735 per month in Ambositra and $1,359 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 $490 in Ambositra and $906 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $25.50 per month in Ambositra and $774 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 $490, than in Chiang Mai at $906. 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.