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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $380 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $708 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,036 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 123% 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 ฿64.1

$1.99 MGA 8,375

-1.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$17.91 MGA 75.4K

2.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$0.69 MGA 2,920

182.61%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.86 MGA 3,628

-1.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.87 MGA 3,679

-63.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$0.98 MGA 4,112

118.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$1.51 MGA 6,348

143.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.06 MGA 4,462

56.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$0.59 MGA 2,480

164.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$0.59 MGA 2,491

101.69%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$1.90 MGA 8,006

4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$6.57 MGA 27.7K

147.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$5.29 MGA 22.3K

-40.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$3.38 MGA 14.2K

220.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$1.00 MGA 4,211

165.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$0.55 MGA 2,302

121.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$0.73 MGA 3,067

126.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$0.54 MGA 2,287

187.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$0.46 MGA 1,948

189.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$0.44 MGA 1,871

175.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$0.39 MGA 1,661

74.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$0.63 MGA 2,657

-9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$1.10 MGA 4,612

325.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

$9.33 MGA 39.3K

82.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$0.78 MGA 3,266

133.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

$1.02 MGA 4,274

211.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.12 MGA 512

658.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

$8.95 MGA 37.7K

109.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$1.14 MGA 4,799

12.28%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$43.57 MGA 183.4K

61.76%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$6.68 MGA 28.1K

110.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$22.54 MGA 94.9K

-21.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$17.64 MGA 74.3K

134.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

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

$303 ฿9,928

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$332 MGA 1.4M

28.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$110 MGA 464.9K

116.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$663 MGA 2.8M

22.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$445 MGA 1.9M

14.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $332 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Mahajanga. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $133 in Mahajanga – so Mahajanga wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 123% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $569 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 109% less in Mahajanga. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 83% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $380 in Mahajanga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mahajanga costs $380 versus $848 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.