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: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $305 in Antsirabe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $496 in Antsirabe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $686 in Antsirabe.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 182% more expensive than in Antsirabe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Antsirabe 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$1.01 MGA 4,349

94.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$14.53 MGA 62.4K

26.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.51 MGA 19.4K

65.85%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.32 MGA 5,656

53.03%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.85 MGA 3,667

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.58 MGA 2,474

-37.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.53 MGA 6,562

39.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.38 MGA 1,635

334.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.46 MGA 1,953

241.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.59 MGA 2,524

101.69%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$0.84 MGA 3,592

130.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.82 MGA 33.5K

107.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.67 MGA 15.8K

-18.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$3.95 MGA 17.0K

176.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.70 MGA 3,013

287.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.28 MGA 1,209

317.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.65 MGA 2,780

160.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.32 MGA 1,361

400.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.21 MGA 897

557.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.46 MGA 1,960

160.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.09 MGA 398

644.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.45 MGA 1,950

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$5.14 MGA 22.1K

242.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.09 MGA 392

877.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$37.61 MGA 161.4K

87.90%

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$62.8 MGA 269.5K

-72.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$16.34 MGA 70.1K

157.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$67.9 MGA 291.3K

536.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$44.23 MGA 189.8K

440.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$218 MGA 935.2K

277.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$158 MGA 677.0K

224.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Antsirabe: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $67.9 in Antsirabe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $15.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $95.0 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 182% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $458 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $67.9 in Antsirabe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 157% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Antsirabe – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Antsirabe gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 182% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.