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

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 85% more than Ambositra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ambositra are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ambositra 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.8

$2.69 MGA 12.0K

-20.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿653

$20.82 MGA 92.6K

-6.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

$5.79 MGA 25.7K

-5.53%

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.7

$1.65 MGA 7,330

1.82%

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

$0.66 ฿22.22

$0.82 MGA 3,660

-19.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ฿11.58

$0.45 MGA 2,007

-24.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.5

$1.02 MGA 4,519

137.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿126

$2.24 MGA 9,944

66.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ฿69.3

$1.04 MGA 4,615

98.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.06

$1.01 MGA 4,510

44.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿45.34

$0.72 MGA 3,217

87.50%

Eggs

$2.27 ฿76.4

$2.01 MGA 8,948

12.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 ฿549

$8.49 MGA 37.7K

92.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 ฿90.8

$4.43 MGA 19.7K

-39.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 ฿310

$5.02 MGA 22.3K

83.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.6

$1.06 MGA 4,709

125.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.85

$0.54 MGA 2,414

92.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.07 MGA 4,737

49.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ฿48.64

$0.90 MGA 3,995

60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.84

$0.60 MGA 2,682

116.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.50

$0.99 MGA 4,398

12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.69

$0.33 MGA 1,466

112.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.09

$0.68 MGA 3,023

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ฿139

$1.62 MGA 7,222

154.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿599

$5.03 MGA 22.4K

253.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿55.0

$1.04 MGA 4,606

56.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ฿96.6

$1.81 MGA 8,056

58.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿41.05

$3.38 MGA 15.0K

-63.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.92

$2.01 MGA 8,939

-72.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.9

$4.57 MGA 20.3K

-49.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.13 MGA 5,023

32.74%

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

$20.9K ฿702.3K

$11.9K MGA 53.1M

74.58%

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

$26.7K ฿900.1K

$25.6K MGA 113.9M

4.38%

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

$61.3 ฿2,063

$76.0 MGA 337.8K

-19.38%

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

$12.50 ฿421

$17.22 MGA 76.6K

-27.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿686

$58.3 MGA 259.1K

-65.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,277

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿222

$5.65 MGA 25.1K

16.81%

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

$774 ฿26.1K

$25.50 MGA 113.4K

2935.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿486.0K

$14.9K MGA 66.3M

-3.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,845

$28.78 MGA 127.9K

90.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿851

$28.22 MGA 125.5K

-10.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,049

$77.4 MGA 343.9K

17.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,467

$70.2 MGA 311.9K

4.42%

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 %)

5.57

15.75

-64.63%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Ambositra: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Ambositra. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Chiang Mai vs $144 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 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 $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $735 in Ambositra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $906 in Chiang Mai and $490 in Ambositra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $774 per month in Chiang Mai and $25.50 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 $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.