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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $292 in Antsiranana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $583 in Antsiranana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $875 in Antsiranana, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 197% more than Antsiranana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Antsiranana are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Antsiranana 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.57 MGA 6,597

23.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$15.32 MGA 64.2K

21.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.12 MGA 4,709

74.11%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.23 MGA 5,168

73.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.56 MGA 6,530

9.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.82 MGA 3,422

39.02%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.22 MGA 13.5K

-40.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$17.57 MGA 73.7K

-7.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.56 MGA 31.7K

-58.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.15 MGA 4,803

40.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.50 MGA 6,276

6.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.69 MGA 2,881

-23.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.75 MGA 7,345

168.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.57 MGA 2,395

215.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.75 MGA 11.5K

17.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.23 MGA 965

291.30%

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

$6.64 MGA 27.8K

18.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.28 MGA 5,362

-0.78%

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

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

$14.08 ฿460

$21.82 MGA 91.5K

-35.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$56.5 MGA 237.0K

-68.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$13.54 MGA 56.8K

203.25%

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

$35.97 MGA 150.8K

96.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$327 MGA 1.4M

145.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$218 MGA 913.7K

136.52%

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 Antsiranana: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Antsiranana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $151 – making Antsiranana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Antsiranana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $292 in Antsiranana – roughly 197% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $437 in Antsiranana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $15.00 in Antsiranana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $292 in Antsiranana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $292 in Antsiranana, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $292 in Antsiranana to $866 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Antsiranana. 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.