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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $475 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $756 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,037 in Toamasina, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Toamasina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Toamasina are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Toamasina 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$2.24 MGA 9,622

-5.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$16.44 MGA 70.5K

20.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$4.59 MGA 19.7K

27.45%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.13 MGA 4,863

55.75%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.74 MGA 3,173

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.61 MGA 2,611

-45.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.02 MGA 4,367

142.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$1.31 MGA 5,641

196.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.03 MGA 4,410

84.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.68 MGA 2,916

145.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$0.93 MGA 3,988

45.16%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.99 MGA 8,534

7.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$12.46 MGA 53.4K

27.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$7.00 MGA 30.0K

-59.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$5.41 MGA 23.2K

94.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.63 MGA 7,015

46.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.36 MGA 5,837

-21.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.65 MGA 7,091

-7.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$0.73 MGA 3,148

105.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.61 MGA 2,607

109.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.54 MGA 2,326

103.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.34 MGA 1,448

102.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.48 MGA 2,056

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$1.85 MGA 7,952

130.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$0.87 MGA 3,721

90.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.19 MGA 5,106

136.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.36 MGA 1,566

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.16 MGA 4,960

23.28%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

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

$13.19 ฿433

$33.18 MGA 142.4K

-60.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$70.0 MGA 300.3K

-72.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$23.44 MGA 100.6K

68.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$7.03 MGA 30.2K

-5.83%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$9.24 MGA 39.6K

492.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$6.84 MGA 29.4K

271.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$56.9 MGA 244.1K

61.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$39.25 MGA 168.4K

90.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$141 MGA 605.8K

230.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$57.0 MGA 244.5K

394.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$466 MGA 2.0M

91.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$137 MGA 586.3K

281.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$137 MGA 586.8K

332.89%

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $141 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 333% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Toamasina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $161 – 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 94% 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $712 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 $920 in Chiang Mai and $475 in Toamasina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Toamasina, where all-in costs run around $475, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Toamasina 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. Toamasina costs $475 versus $920 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.