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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 104% more expensive than in Antsirabe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.14 MGA 4,940

84.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$16.12 MGA 69.8K

23.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$5.97 MGA 25.9K

-3.02%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.36 MGA 5,899

34.56%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.79 MGA 3,408

-1.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.46 MGA 1,997

-32.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.05 MGA 4,555

122.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.27 MGA 9,847

63.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.97 MGA 4,203

109.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.03 MGA 4,457

55.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.74 MGA 3,194

91.89%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.14 MGA 9,285

1.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$8.85 MGA 38.3K

79.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.50 MGA 19.5K

-31.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$4.87 MGA 21.1K

102.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.13 MGA 4,893

132.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.57 MGA 2,450

92.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.03 MGA 4,465

58.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.84 MGA 3,654

82.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.57 MGA 2,473

117.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.96 MGA 4,180

17.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.35 MGA 1,523

111.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.45 MGA 1,947

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.59 MGA 6,895

169.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$5.10 MGA 22.1K

252.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.02 MGA 4,399

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.90 MGA 8,250

52.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$3.43 MGA 14.9K

-64.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$2.13 MGA 9,210

-75.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$4.71 MGA 20.4K

-49.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.17 MGA 5,052

23.08%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$12.1K MGA 52.5M

74.76%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$26.0K MGA 112.7M

4.94%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$76.5 MGA 331.3K

-15.08%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$17.50 MGA 75.8K

-23.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$57.7 MGA 250.0K

-63.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$5.79 MGA 25.1K

15.89%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$25.69 MGA 111.3K

2963.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$15.2K MGA 65.9M

-0.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$29.96 MGA 129.8K

87.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$28.66 MGA 124.2K

-12.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$79.7 MGA 345.3K

16.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$71.0 MGA 307.5K

5.85%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Antsirabe: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $16.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $142 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

Chiang Mai vs Antsirabe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

You'd need roughly $1,426 in Chiang Mai and $699 in Antsirabe 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Chiang Mai versus $466 in Antsirabe – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Antsirabe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

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.