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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $177 in Toliara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $264 in Toliara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $352 in Toliara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 390% more than Toliara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Toliara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Toliara 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.80 MGA 7,536

7.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$0.81 MGA 3,386

140.74%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.65 MGA 2,705

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.41 MGA 5,909

21.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.41 MGA 1,707

178.05%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.14 MGA 8,975

-9.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.53 MGA 19.0K

-31.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.87 MGA 20.4K

123.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.69 MGA 2,893

75.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.74 MGA 7,307

-8.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.48 MGA 1,998

191.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.64 MGA 2,690

-17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.74 MGA 7,304

169.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.03 MGA 25.3K

209.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.64 MGA 2,690

181.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

$16.78 MGA 70.3K

-16.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$33.00 MGA 138.3K

-45.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toliara: May 31, 2026

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 Toliara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 390% more than Toliara, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $266 in Toliara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $177 in Toliara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 149% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $177 in Toliara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Toliara costs $177 versus $866 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 Toliara. 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.