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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $434 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $688 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $943 in Toamasina, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 96% more than Toamasina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Toamasina are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Toamasina 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$2.72 MGA 11.3K

-27.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$15.26 MGA 63.2K

23.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$4.52 MGA 18.7K

75.22%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$1.17 MGA 4,836

63.25%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.72 MGA 2,986

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.74 MGA 3,062

-52.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$0.80 MGA 3,302

176.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.12 MGA 4,650

239.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$0.98 MGA 4,072

67.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$0.69 MGA 2,861

134.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$0.66 MGA 2,726

78.79%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$1.91 MGA 7,930

5.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$10.64 MGA 44.1K

49.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$6.76 MGA 28.0K

-55.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$5.23 MGA 21.6K

105.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$1.45 MGA 6,021

80.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$0.85 MGA 3,523

43.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$1.37 MGA 5,666

24.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$0.75 MGA 3,116

110.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$0.52 MGA 2,146

153.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$0.74 MGA 3,067

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$0.32 MGA 1,305

109.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.49 MGA 2,047

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$1.76 MGA 7,297

157.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$0.89 MGA 3,674

105.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.12 MGA 4,655

188.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.32 MGA 1,305

178.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.07 MGA 4,420

18.69%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

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

$13.77 ฿448

$19.06 MGA 79.0K

-27.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$65.8 MGA 272.7K

-73.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$22.25 MGA 92.2K

86.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$6.53 MGA 27.0K

-11.49%

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

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$8.63 MGA 35.8K

530.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$6.81 MGA 28.2K

283.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$54.4 MGA 225.4K

55.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$37.93 MGA 157.1K

83.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$136 MGA 562.3K

212.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$56.5 MGA 233.9K

321.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$445 MGA 1.8M

85.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$134 MGA 554.7K

284.69%

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

$143 MGA 590.5K

345.59%

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 Toamasina: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $136 in Toamasina. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 346% 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 Toamasina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $147 – making Toamasina 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 Toamasina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 96% more than Toamasina, 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 $651 in Toamasina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Toamasina, 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $434 in Toamasina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 66% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $434 in Toamasina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Toamasina costs $434 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 Toamasina. 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.