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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $466 in Antsirabe versus $950 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $715 in Antsirabe versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $965 in Antsirabe versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Antsirabe costs roughly 51% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Antsirabe 66% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antsirabe
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.14 MGA 4,940
$2.10 ฿69.3
-45.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.12 MGA 69.8K
$19.84 ฿656
-18.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.97 MGA 25.9K
$5.79 ฿191
3.11%
Cappuccino
$1.36 MGA 5,899
$1.83 ฿60.4
-25.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 MGA 3,408
$0.78 ฿25.61
1.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 MGA 1,997
$0.31 ฿10.37
48.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 MGA 4,555
$2.34 ฿77.2
-55.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 MGA 9,847
$3.70 ฿122
-38.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antsirabe
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 MGA 4,203
$2.03 ฿67.1
-52.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 MGA 4,457
$1.60 ฿52.7
-35.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.74 MGA 3,194
$1.42 ฿46.75
-47.89%
Eggs
$2.14 MGA 9,285
$2.18 ฿71.9
-1.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.85 MGA 38.3K
$15.91 ฿526
-44.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.50 MGA 19.5K
$3.07 ฿102
46.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.87 MGA 21.1K
$9.87 ฿326
-50.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.13 MGA 4,893
$2.63 ฿86.8
-57.03%
Banana (1kg)
$0.57 MGA 2,450
$1.10 ฿36.19
-48.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 MGA 4,465
$1.63 ฿53.8
-36.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.84 MGA 3,654
$1.53 ฿50.6
-45.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 MGA 2,473
$1.24 ฿41.13
-54.03%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 MGA 4,180
$1.13 ฿37.37
-15.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 MGA 1,523
$0.74 ฿24.38
-52.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 MGA 1,947
$0.50 ฿16.48
-10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.59 MGA 6,895
$4.28 ฿141
-62.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.10 MGA 22.1K
$17.97 ฿594
-71.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 MGA 4,399
$1.70 ฿56.1
-40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 MGA 8,250
$2.90 ฿95.7
-34.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Antsirabe
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.94 ฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.3 ฿1,827
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 MGA 14.9K
$1.23 ฿40.76
178.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 MGA 9,210
$0.53 ฿17.66
301.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.71 MGA 20.4K
$2.40 ฿79.3
96.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 MGA 5,052
$1.44 ฿47.55
-18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1K MGA 52.5M
$21.2K ฿700.2K
-42.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K MGA 112.7M
$27.3K ฿902.1K
-4.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antsirabe
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.5 MGA 331.3K
$64.9 ฿2,145
17.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50 MGA 75.8K
$13.35 ฿441
31.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.7 MGA 250.0K
$20.83 ฿688
176.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antsirabe
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$40.42 ฿1,336
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95 ฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.79 MGA 25.1K
$6.71 ฿222
-13.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antsirabe
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$25.69 MGA 111.3K
$787 ฿26.0K
-96.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K MGA 65.9M
$15.1K ฿499.6K
0.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antsirabe
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.96 MGA 129.8K
$56.2 ฿1,858
-46.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.66 MGA 124.2K
$24.95 ฿824
14.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MGA 345.3K
$92.7 ฿3,063
-14.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0 MGA 307.5K
$75.1 ฿2,482
-5.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antsirabe
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$484 ฿16.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$287 ฿9,491
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$910 ฿30.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$531 ฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,980 ฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,451 ฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antsirabe
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$605 ฿20.0K
-
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 Antsirabe: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $16.00 in Antsirabe vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $242 per month, with Antsirabe cheaper across the board.

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
Antsirabe vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Antsirabe?
Antsirabe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $699 in Antsirabe and $1,426 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Antsirabe and in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Antsirabe and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $466 per month in Antsirabe versus $950 in Chiang Mai – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Antsirabe or in Chiang Mai?
At $466 in Antsirabe versus $950 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Antsirabe but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Antsirabe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Antsirabe or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Antsirabe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Antsirabe or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Antsirabe and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Antsirabe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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