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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $667 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,055 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,442 in Antananarivo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Antananarivo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Antananarivo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Antananarivo 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$2.74 MGA 11.8K

-24.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$21.18 MGA 91.6K

-7.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$5.86 MGA 25.3K

-3.58%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$1.68 MGA 7,250

7.74%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$0.79 MGA 3,408

-10.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$0.44 MGA 1,886

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

$1.06 MGA 4,600

111.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$2.28 MGA 9,868

59.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$0.98 MGA 4,231

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$1.03 MGA 4,470

45.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$0.73 MGA 3,165

83.56%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.07 MGA 8,933

9.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

$8.54 MGA 37.0K

90.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$4.46 MGA 19.3K

-33.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

$4.96 MGA 21.4K

100.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$1.13 MGA 4,886

127.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$0.57 MGA 2,452

85.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$1.04 MGA 4,515

54.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$0.89 MGA 3,862

70.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$0.58 MGA 2,488

118.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$1.03 MGA 4,449

3.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$0.36 MGA 1,537

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$0.71 MGA 3,051

-28.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$1.64 MGA 7,110

155.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

$5.32 MGA 23.0K

235.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

$1.06 MGA 4,584

59.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

$1.92 MGA 8,288

47.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$0.12 MGA 531

675.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$3.50 MGA 15.1K

-64.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$2.05 MGA 8,862

-71.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

$4.67 MGA 20.2K

-48.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

$1.15 MGA 4,980

22.61%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

$12.2K MGA 52.6M

76.22%

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$26.2K MGA 113.3M

4.32%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

$77.5 MGA 335.4K

-17.88%

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

$12.85 ฿426

$17.67 MGA 76.4K

-27.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

$59.3 MGA 256.6K

-65.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$30.14 MGA 130.4K

28.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$7.33 MGA 31.7K

-45.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$5.68 MGA 24.6K

18.66%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

$25.87 MGA 111.9K

2907.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$15.2K MGA 65.9M

-4.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$30.09 MGA 130.2K

80.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$28.84 MGA 124.8K

-11.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

$79.1 MGA 342.0K

19.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$71.7 MGA 310.3K

2.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

$338 MGA 1.5M

45.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

$156 MGA 673.1K

85.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

$773 MGA 3.3M

15.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

$329 MGA 1.4M

56.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

$673 MGA 2.9M

190.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

$593 MGA 2.6M

149.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$135 MGA 582.1K

347.43%

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 31, 2026

Last update for Antananarivo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $338 in Antananarivo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 347% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Antananarivo. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $145 in Antananarivo – so Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 42%, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,000 in Antananarivo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Antananarivo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $947 in Chiang Mai and $667 in Antananarivo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $25.87 in Antananarivo. 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 Antananarivo, where all-in costs run around $667, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Antananarivo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Antananarivo – 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 Antananarivo. 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.