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 $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $462 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $753 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,045 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 32% lower, Toamasina 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.8

$2.20 MGA 9,776

-3.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿653

$15.66 MGA 69.6K

23.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

$4.69 MGA 20.8K

16.63%

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.7

$1.17 MGA 5,180

43.59%

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

$0.66 ฿22.22

$0.75 MGA 3,345

-12.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ฿11.58

$0.59 MGA 2,608

-42.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.5

$0.93 MGA 4,156

160.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿126

$1.28 MGA 5,703

191.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ฿69.3

$1.04 MGA 4,629

98.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.06

$0.69 MGA 3,075

111.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿45.34

$0.95 MGA 4,244

42.11%

Eggs

$2.27 ฿76.4

$1.88 MGA 8,368

20.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 ฿549

$12.08 MGA 53.7K

35.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 ฿90.8

$6.64 MGA 29.5K

-59.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 ฿310

$5.14 MGA 22.9K

78.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.6

$1.64 MGA 7,284

45.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.85

$1.39 MGA 6,179

-25.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.57 MGA 6,987

1.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ฿48.64

$0.65 MGA 2,906

121.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.84

$0.60 MGA 2,674

116.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.50

$0.56 MGA 2,492

98.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.69

$0.32 MGA 1,438

118.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.09

$0.50 MGA 2,230

2.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ฿139

$1.79 MGA 7,942

130.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿599

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿55.0

$0.93 MGA 4,119

75.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ฿96.6

$1.13 MGA 5,023

153.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.92

$0.36 MGA 1,584

138.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿41.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.92

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.19 MGA 5,310

26.05%

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

$20.9K ฿702.3K

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

$26.7K ฿900.1K

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

$61.3 ฿2,063

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

$12.50 ฿421

$32.37 MGA 143.9K

-61.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿686

$68.9 MGA 306.3K

-70.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,277

$22.38 MGA 99.5K

69.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿222

$7.04 MGA 31.3K

-6.25%

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

$774 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿486.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,845

$9.17 MGA 40.8K

497.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿851

$6.92 MGA 30.8K

265.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,049

$56.4 MGA 250.6K

60.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,467

$38.00 MGA 168.9K

92.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ฿15.4K

$137 MGA 607.2K

235.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,891

$57.0 MGA 253.6K

415.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 ฿30.9K

$448 MGA 2.0M

105.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.6K

$135 MGA 600.8K

308.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.9K

$136 MGA 602.6K

337.06%

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: October 5, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $137 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 337% 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 $16.00 in Toamasina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $157 – 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 $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $693 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 $906 in Chiang Mai and $462 in Toamasina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 51% 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 $462, than in Chiang Mai at $906. 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 $462 versus $906 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.