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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $435 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $704 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $973 in Toamasina, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 100% more than Toamasina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Toamasina are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Toamasina 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.73 MGA 11.5K

-27.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$15.46 MGA 64.9K

21.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.57 MGA 19.2K

69.58%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.22 MGA 5,100

57.38%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.69 MGA 2,887

14.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.69 MGA 2,913

-47.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.81 MGA 3,380

172.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.09 MGA 4,575

235.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.92 MGA 3,871

79.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.68 MGA 2,873

139.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.64 MGA 2,702

85.94%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.85 MGA 7,742

8.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.43 MGA 43.8K

53.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.85 MGA 28.7K

-55.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$5.21 MGA 21.8K

108.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.41 MGA 5,915

95.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.86 MGA 3,596

37.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.34 MGA 5,641

22.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.81 MGA 3,409

87.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.48 MGA 2,028

187.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.68 MGA 2,853

75.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.32 MGA 1,322

118.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.50 MGA 2,087

12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.71 MGA 7,195

167.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.89 MGA 3,733

105.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.13 MGA 4,743

183.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.32 MGA 1,339

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.07 MGA 4,502

14.95%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

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

$13.68 ฿445

$19.18 MGA 80.5K

-28.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$67.6 MGA 283.8K

-74.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$22.48 MGA 94.3K

83.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$6.72 MGA 28.2K

-14.14%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$8.63 MGA 36.2K

546.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$6.86 MGA 28.8K

282.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$54.4 MGA 228.4K

57.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$37.77 MGA 158.5K

91.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$131 MGA 548.3K

228.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$55.4 MGA 232.3K

331.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$453 MGA 1.9M

80.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$136 MGA 569.5K

276.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$146 MGA 610.9K

325.01%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $131 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 325% 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: $241 vs $146 – 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 100% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $652 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $435 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $435 in Toamasina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Toamasina costs $435 versus $869 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.