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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $389 per month in Manakara vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $587 per month in Manakara vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $784 per month in Manakara vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Manakara is about 55% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manakara and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Manakara 71% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 MGA 9,442

$1.98 ฿64.3

13.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.81 MGA 62.1K

$18.80 ฿612

-21.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.60 MGA 15.1K

$7.75 ฿252

-53.55%

Cappuccino

$1.20 MGA 5,028

$1.92 ฿62.5

-37.50%

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

$0.58 MGA 2,418

$0.79 ฿25.79

-26.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 MGA 2,449

$0.36 ฿11.62

61.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 MGA 4,766

$2.21 ฿72.1

-48.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MGA 5,966

$3.66 ฿119

-61.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MGA 7,540

$1.65 ฿53.8

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MGA 4,299

$1.63 ฿53.2

-37.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 MGA 3,108

$1.19 ฿38.86

-37.82%

Eggs

$2.25 MGA 9,449

$2.00 ฿65.1

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

$15.98 ฿520

-60.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

$3.03 ฿98.5

10.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.1K

$10.86 ฿354

-66.85%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 MGA 3,962

$2.76 ฿90.0

-65.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,856

$1.18 ฿38.42

-42.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.35 MGA 1,454

$1.64 ฿53.5

-78.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 MGA 3,007

$1.52 ฿49.51

-52.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 MGA 2,298

$1.38 ฿45.10

-60.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 MGA 3,241

$1.19 ฿38.84

-35.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,429

$0.70 ฿22.86

-51.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 2,933

$0.56 ฿18.13

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 5,910

$4.58 ฿149

-69.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.73 MGA 19.8K

$16.56 ฿539

-71.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MGA 4,311

$1.83 ฿59.5

-43.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 MGA 5,459

$3.20 ฿104

-59.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 879

$0.88 ฿28.56

-76.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.89 MGA 75.1K

$18.72 ฿610

-4.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 MGA 4,595

$1.36 ฿44.16

-19.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 MGA 8,680

$1.34 ฿43.65

54.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 MGA 13.9K

$7.84 ฿256

-57.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 5,008

$1.23 ฿39.92

-3.25%

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

$15.6K MGA 65.6M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

-27.74%

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

$20.6K MGA 86.4M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

-8.65%

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

$42.75 MGA 179.4K

$70.5 ฿2,298

-39.40%

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

$13.68 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 MGA 228.3K

$17.45 ฿568

211.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.44 MGA 48.0K

$41.33 ฿1,346

-72.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$22.15 MGA 92.9K

$307 ฿10.0K

-92.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.74 MGA 70.3K

$55.8 ฿1,817

-69.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.87 MGA 87.6K

$26.21 ฿854

-20.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.39 MGA 190.5K

$85.8 ฿2,793

-47.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.88 MGA 188.3K

$72.2 ฿2,353

-37.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

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)

$127 MGA 531.0K

$619 ฿20.2K

-79.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

380.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manakara: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 389% 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 $15.00 in Manakara versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $131 vs $241 – making Manakara 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

Manakara vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 123% more than Manakara, 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 $584 per month in Manakara and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $22.15 per month in Manakara and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 85% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $389 in Manakara and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manakara costs $389 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 Manakara. 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.