😐A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $315 in Antsiranana, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $633 in Antsiranana, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $951 in Antsiranana, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 201% more than Antsiranana, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Antsiranana are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai31% lower, Antsiranana77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Antsiranana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.2
$1.59MGA 6,893
30.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64฿651
$16.17MGA 69.9K
21.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.65฿188
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.81฿59.9
$1.15MGA 4,962
57.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71฿23.66
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.48
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24฿74.2
$1.21MGA 5,246
85.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Antsiranana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96฿65.0
$1.61MGA 6,974
21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50฿49.83
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34฿44.32
$0.87MGA 3,751
54.02%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.1
$3.26MGA 14.1K
-30.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26฿539
$18.28MGA 79.1K
-11.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95฿98.0
$8.20MGA 35.5K
-64.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.94฿330
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.57฿85.3
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.06฿35.04
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61฿53.5
$2.82MGA 12.2K
-42.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.4
$1.56MGA 6,765
-2.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27฿42.14
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.07฿35.37
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.89
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.87
$0.69MGA 2,964
-26.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19฿139
$1.91MGA 8,269
119.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.87฿593
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69฿56.2
$0.62MGA 2,668
172.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84฿94.1
$2.85MGA 12.3K
-0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Antsiranana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93฿30.70
$0.24MGA 1,041
287.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.9฿1,787
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.95
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.13
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.42฿80.4
$7.13MGA 30.9K
-66.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41฿46.84
$1.40MGA 6,035
0.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿711.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿906.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Antsiranana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,112
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85฿426
$22.94MGA 99.3K
-43.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.22฿671
$60.1MGA 260.1K
-66.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Antsiranana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.74฿1,285
$14.09MGA 61.0K
174.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97฿132
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.74฿223
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Antsiranana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$778฿25.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿484.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Antsiranana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3฿1,801
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45฿844
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3฿3,129
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4฿2,436
$36.52MGA 158.0K
101.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Antsiranana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289฿9,596
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894฿29.6K
$354MGA 1.5M
152.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$517฿17.1K
$237MGA 1.0M
118.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,955฿64.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,477฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Antsiranana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Last update for Antsiranana: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Antsiranana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $165 – 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
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and in Antsiranana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $947 in Chiang Mai, $315 in Antsiranana – roughly 201% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Antsiranana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $472 in Antsiranana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $16.00 in Antsiranana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Antsiranana?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $947 in Chiang Mai and $315 in Antsiranana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Antsiranana, where all-in costs run around $315, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Antsiranana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Antsiranana?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $315 in Antsiranana to $947 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chiang Mai or Antsiranana safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Antsiranana?
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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared