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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $294 in Antsirabe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $471 in Antsirabe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $648 in Antsirabe.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 194% more expensive than Antsirabe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Antsirabe 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.01 MGA 4,249

92.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$14.27 MGA 59.8K

30.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.33 MGA 18.1K

80.60%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.35 MGA 5,651

44.44%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.81 MGA 3,394

4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.53 MGA 2,239

-33.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.51 MGA 6,321

41.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.41 MGA 1,721

317.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.42 MGA 1,752

288.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.58 MGA 2,411

96.55%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.79 MGA 3,304

144.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.59 MGA 31.8K

113.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.73 MGA 15.6K

-16.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.08 MGA 17.1K

167.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$0.69 MGA 2,882

298.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.28 MGA 1,179

332.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.64 MGA 2,679

153.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.35 MGA 1,449

354.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.21 MGA 879

566.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.43 MGA 1,798

172.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.09 MGA 363

633.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.43 MGA 1,796

23.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.09 MGA 395

900.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$37.91 MGA 158.9K

82.19%

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$62.2 MGA 260.9K

-71.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$16.58 MGA 69.5K

147.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$67.9 MGA 284.6K

530.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$44.67 MGA 187.3K

431.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$218 MGA 914.7K

267.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$155 MGA 650.2K

232.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Antsirabe: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $67.9 in Antsirabe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $14.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $84.0 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 194% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $441 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: $428 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 194% 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 $14.00 versus $19.00 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 194% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.