Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Madagascar

For one person, living is cheaper in Madagascar: $626 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
🇲🇬 Madagascar
$626
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 33.7% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 44.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 36.3% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 42% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$2.24 MGA 9,997
-4.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$17.83 MGA 79.7K
8.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$4.88 MGA 21.8K
12.09%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$1.41 MGA 6,296
19.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$0.81 MGA 3,612
-18.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.64 MGA 2,859
-46.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$1.11 MGA 4,961
118.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$1.90 MGA 8,504
96.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Madagascar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.14 MGA 5,108
80.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$1.01 MGA 4,519
44.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$0.70 MGA 3,116
92.86%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$2.11 MGA 9,413
7.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$8.62 MGA 38.5K
89.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$4.79 MGA 21.4K
-43.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$4.63 MGA 20.7K
98.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$1.10 MGA 4,926
117.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$0.62 MGA 2,784
67.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$1.03 MGA 4,592
55.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$0.83 MGA 3,707
73.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$0.54 MGA 2,432
140.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$0.77 MGA 3,459
44.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$0.35 MGA 1,566
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.67 MGA 3,008
-23.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$1.54 MGA 6,889
168.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$5.12 MGA 22.9K
247.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$0.87 MGA 3,907
87.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$1.58 MGA 7,069
81.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.12 MGA 539
616.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$17.82 MGA 79.6K
198.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$3.46 MGA 15.5K
-64.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$2.30 MGA 10.3K
-75.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$4.44 MGA 19.9K
-47.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.19 MGA 5,324
26.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$12.6K MGA 56.2M
65.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$24.4K MGA 109.1M
9.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$65.2 MGA 291.6K
-6.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$17.41 MGA 77.8K
-28.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$54.9 MGA 245.5K
-62.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$22.86 MGA 102.2K
65.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$7.05 MGA 31.5K
-46.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$6.26 MGA 28.0K
5.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$25.42 MGA 113.6K
2944.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$14.8K MGA 65.9M
-2.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$20.93 MGA 93.5K
161.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$26.13 MGA 116.8K
-3.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$69.0 MGA 308.3K
31.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$48.01 MGA 214.6K
52.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$289 MGA 1.3M
58.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$138 MGA 616.9K
112.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$704 MGA 3.1M
30.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$329 MGA 1.5M
67.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$652 MGA 2.9M
194.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$561 MGA 2.5M
157.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$125 MGA 556.7K
375.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
19.75
-71.80%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Madagascar: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$294
Madagascar
$138 53% $156
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$236
Madagascar
$144 38.8% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Madagascar
$74 32.7% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Madagascar
$138 46.1% $43
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Madagascar
$65 16.4% $13
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Madagascar
$33 45.1% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Madagascar
$35 30.8% $16
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇲🇬 Madagascar
🕒 Local time
15:39 3:39 PM
11:39 11:39 AM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
25,570,895
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MGA, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Malagasy Ariary exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4,470 MGA (10,000 MGA = 2.24 USD). 1 EUR = 5,013 MGA (10,000 MGA = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Madagascar 7,010 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Madagascar

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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