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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $572 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $848 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,124 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Mahajanga 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.04 MGA 8,832

2.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$18.71 MGA 81.1K

6.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.73 MGA 3,167

150.68%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.97 MGA 4,207

-19.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.91 MGA 3,936

-65.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.06 MGA 4,613

120.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.59 MGA 6,911

132.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.40 MGA 6,070

45.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.84 MGA 3,655

90.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.62 MGA 2,681

129.03%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.26 MGA 9,775

-3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$6.88 MGA 29.8K

131.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.85 MGA 29.7K

-55.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$3.77 MGA 16.3K

161.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.19 MGA 5,155

121.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.67 MGA 2,904

64.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.72 MGA 3,109

126.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.67 MGA 2,883

128.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.53 MGA 2,301

133.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.57 MGA 2,451

98.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.34 MGA 1,469

117.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.56 MGA 2,430

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$9.20 MGA 39.9K

95.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.84 MGA 3,640

102.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$0.95 MGA 4,120

205.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.23 MGA 992

308.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.38 MGA 5,975

4.35%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$46.01 MGA 199.4K

41.12%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$7.17 MGA 31.1K

86.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$23.57 MGA 102.1K

-11.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$18.43 MGA 79.9K

119.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$347 MGA 1.5M

39.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$276 MGA 1.2M

3.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$705 MGA 3.1M

29.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$464 MGA 2.0M

14.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $347 in Mahajanga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Mahajanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $152 – making Mahajanga 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 Mahajanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than Mahajanga, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $857 in Mahajanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahajanga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $572 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 60% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahajanga, where all-in costs run around $572, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Mahajanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mahajanga costs $572 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Mahajanga. 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.