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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $571 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,045 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,519 in Antananarivo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Antananarivo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Antananarivo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Antananarivo 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$3.34 MGA 14.0K

-41.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$18.75 MGA 78.6K

-0.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.81 MGA 20.2K

62.58%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.29 MGA 5,424

51.16%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.06 MGA 4,432

-19.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.59 MGA 2,494

-40.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$0.75 MGA 3,137

184.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.57 MGA 6,583

137.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.12 MGA 4,710

52.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.09 MGA 4,567

49.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.74 MGA 3,113

54.05%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.07 MGA 8,664

-6.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.33 MGA 43.3K

56.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.55 MGA 19.1K

-31.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.42 MGA 18.5K

146.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.31 MGA 5,510

109.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.59 MGA 2,492

105.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.08 MGA 4,516

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.00 MGA 4,189

59.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.73 MGA 3,060

91.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.00 MGA 4,212

17.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.34 MGA 1,437

94.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.69 MGA 2,905

-23.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.61 MGA 10.9K

79.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$5.49 MGA 23.0K

239.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.82 MGA 3,438

119.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.28 MGA 5,347

152.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.12 MGA 491

650.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$2.92 MGA 12.2K

-51.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.71 MGA 7,158

-24.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.39 MGA 18.4K

78.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.23 MGA 5,148

3.25%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$12.0K MGA 50.4M

76.95%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$24.0K MGA 100.8M

-7.60%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$58.5 MGA 245.5K

17.99%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$15.69 MGA 65.8K

-10.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$47.42 MGA 198.9K

-62.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$36.55 MGA 153.3K

12.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.34 MGA 26.6K

9.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.78 MGA 28.4K

-12.68%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$72.2 MGA 302.8K

314.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$11.6K MGA 48.8M

28.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$30.63 MGA 128.4K

78.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$29.63 MGA 124.2K

-9.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$77.8 MGA 326.3K

9.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$76.3 MGA 320.0K

-7.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$382 MGA 1.6M

11.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$77.8 MGA 326.1K

205.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$584 MGA 2.4M

37.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$436 MGA 1.8M

18.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$699 MGA 2.9M

182.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$587 MGA 2.5M

151.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$122 MGA 509.8K

407.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Antananarivo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $382 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 408% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Antananarivo. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $151 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 52%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $857 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $571 in Antananarivo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $72.2 in Antananarivo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $571 in Antananarivo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.