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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $376 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $713 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,050 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 127% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Mahajanga 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.98 MGA 8,209

-1.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$17.88 MGA 74.2K

5.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$0.66 MGA 2,730

189.39%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.88 MGA 3,632

-4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.92 MGA 3,809

-61.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.03 MGA 4,272

114.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.60 MGA 6,623

137.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.05 MGA 4,341

56.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.59 MGA 2,466

174.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.55 MGA 2,298

114.55%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.93 MGA 8,017

4.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.83 MGA 28.3K

132.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.26 MGA 21.8K

-42.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$3.31 MGA 13.7K

225.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$0.94 MGA 3,900

177.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.54 MGA 2,232

125.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.78 MGA 3,222

117.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.51 MGA 2,100

209.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.49 MGA 2,035

169.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.45 MGA 1,856

160.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.39 MGA 1,623

71.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.62 MGA 2,592

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.14 MGA 4,736

297.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.58 MGA 39.7K

89.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.84 MGA 3,466

117.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.03 MGA 4,260

213.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.13 MGA 521

584.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.86 MGA 36.8K

118.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.13 MGA 4,673

12.39%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$45.23 MGA 187.6K

55.10%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$6.57 MGA 27.2K

109.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$21.83 MGA 90.6K

-19.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$17.68 MGA 73.3K

135.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$330 MGA 1.4M

28.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$110 MGA 455.0K

117.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$660 MGA 2.7M

25.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$441 MGA 1.8M

16.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $330 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Mahajanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $133 – 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 127% more than Mahajanga, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $564 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.

Public transport costs about 119% less in Mahajanga. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 82% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $376 in Mahajanga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mahajanga costs $376 versus $852 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.