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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 83% more than Ambositra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$2.82 MGA 12.1K

-25.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$20.53 MGA 88.1K

-3.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$5.66 MGA 24.3K

3.36%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.66 MGA 7,123

6.02%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.83 MGA 3,580

-10.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.47 MGA 2,021

-29.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.02 MGA 4,394

142.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.29 MGA 9,818

69.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.08 MGA 4,652

75.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$1.06 MGA 4,565

57.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$0.79 MGA 3,411

70.89%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.05 MGA 8,807

4.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$8.93 MGA 38.3K

77.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$4.56 MGA 19.6K

-37.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$4.99 MGA 21.4K

111.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.12 MGA 4,823

112.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$0.56 MGA 2,419

91.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.08 MGA 4,622

40.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$0.91 MGA 3,916

64.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.62 MGA 2,664

106.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.96 MGA 4,106

14.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.36 MGA 1,529

91.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.76 MGA 3,241

-35.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$1.67 MGA 7,155

155.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$5.34 MGA 22.9K

214.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.02 MGA 4,375

62.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.94 MGA 8,315

44.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$3.44 MGA 14.7K

-65.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$2.07 MGA 8,892

-73.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$4.62 MGA 19.8K

-48.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.24 MGA 5,300

15.32%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$12.4K MGA 53.3M

69.74%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$26.1K MGA 111.9M

3.99%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$75.4 MGA 323.7K

-14.18%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$17.68 MGA 75.9K

-25.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$57.8 MGA 248.1K

-66.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$6.45 MGA 27.7K

2.64%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$25.33 MGA 108.7K

3079.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$15.4K MGA 65.9M

-1.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$29.42 MGA 126.2K

86.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$28.88 MGA 123.9K

-11.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$80.2 MGA 344.0K

14.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$70.9 MGA 304.1K

5.32%

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 %)

5.57

15.75

-64.63%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Ambositra: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Chiang Mai vs Ambositra: 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $754 in Ambositra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $25.33 in Ambositra. 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.