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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $383 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $582 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $781 in Manakara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Manakara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Manakara 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$2.27 MGA 9,395

-13.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$14.58 MGA 60.4K

29.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$3.56 MGA 14.8K

122.47%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$1.15 MGA 4,770

66.09%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.61 MGA 2,547

37.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.59 MGA 2,430

-40.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$1.20 MGA 4,967

84.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.42 MGA 5,866

167.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.75 MGA 7,244

-6.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$1.03 MGA 4,248

57.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$0.68 MGA 2,822

73.53%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$2.33 MGA 9,633

-13.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$6.60 MGA 27.3K

140.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$3.48 MGA 14.4K

-13.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$3.64 MGA 15.1K

195.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$1.01 MGA 4,193

158.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$0.73 MGA 3,017

67.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$0.37 MGA 1,537

359.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$0.68 MGA 2,808

132.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$0.53 MGA 2,209

149.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$0.75 MGA 3,117

56.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$0.32 MGA 1,310

109.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.70 MGA 2,901

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$1.41 MGA 5,837

221.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$4.87 MGA 20.2K

273.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$1.07 MGA 4,452

71.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.29 MGA 5,350

150.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.23 MGA 955

286.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

$17.61 MGA 72.9K

10.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$1.14 MGA 4,719

18.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$2.08 MGA 8,603

-35.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$3.36 MGA 13.9K

145.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.17 MGA 4,866

8.55%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$15.6K MGA 64.8M

35.29%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$20.8K MGA 86.2M

8.06%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$42.05 MGA 174.2K

66.83%

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

$13.77 ฿448

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$53.2 MGA 220.4K

-66.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$11.52 MGA 47.7K

260.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

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

$306 ฿9,953

$22.46 MGA 93.0K

1263.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$16.14 MGA 66.9K

236.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$20.18 MGA 83.6K

29.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$46.11 MGA 191.0K

83.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$44.31 MGA 183.6K

56.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$126 MGA 520.8K

405.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-79.17%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Manakara: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 405% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $133 – making Manakara 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 Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Manakara, 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 $575 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $22.46 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $383 in Manakara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manakara costs $383 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 Manakara. 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.