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 $383 per month in Manakara vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $582 per month in Manakara vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $781 per month in Manakara vs $1,857 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 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 MGA 9,395

$1.96 ฿63.6

15.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.58 MGA 60.4K

$18.81 ฿611

-22.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 MGA 14.8K

$7.92 ฿258

-55.05%

Cappuccino

$1.15 MGA 4,770

$1.91 ฿62.2

-39.79%

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

$0.61 MGA 2,547

$0.84 ฿27.25

-27.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,430

$0.35 ฿11.44

68.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 MGA 4,967

$2.21 ฿71.7

-45.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MGA 5,866

$3.80 ฿124

-62.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MGA 7,244

$1.64 ฿53.2

6.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MGA 4,248

$1.62 ฿52.8

-36.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,822

$1.18 ฿38.40

-42.37%

Eggs

$2.33 MGA 9,633

$2.01 ฿65.4

15.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 MGA 27.3K

$15.89 ฿517

-58.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 MGA 14.4K

$3.01 ฿98.0

15.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 MGA 15.1K

$10.77 ฿350

-66.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 MGA 4,193

$2.61 ฿85.0

-61.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,017

$1.22 ฿39.65

-40.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.37 MGA 1,537

$1.70 ฿55.4

-78.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,808

$1.58 ฿51.2

-56.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,209

$1.32 ฿42.89

-59.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,117

$1.17 ฿38.01

-35.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 MGA 1,310

$0.67 ฿21.85

-52.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 2,901

$0.56 ฿18.21

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 5,837

$4.53 ฿147

-68.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 MGA 20.2K

$18.20 ฿592

-73.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MGA 4,452

$1.83 ฿59.6

-41.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MGA 5,350

$3.23 ฿105

-60.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MGA 955

$0.89 ฿28.83

-74.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.61 MGA 72.9K

$19.38 ฿630

-9.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MGA 4,719

$1.35 ฿43.95

-15.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 MGA 8,603

$1.35 ฿43.79

54.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 MGA 13.9K

$8.25 ฿268

-59.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 MGA 4,866

$1.27 ฿41.40

-7.87%

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

$15.6K MGA 64.8M

$21.2K ฿687.8K

-26.09%

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

$20.8K MGA 86.2M

$22.5K ฿731.0K

-7.46%

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

$42.05 MGA 174.2K

$70.2 ฿2,281

-40.06%

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

$13.77 ฿448

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.2 MGA 220.4K

$17.60 ฿572

202.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.52 MGA 47.7K

$41.57 ฿1,352

-72.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

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

$22.46 MGA 93.0K

$306 ฿9,953

-92.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.14 MGA 66.9K

$54.4 ฿1,768

-70.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.18 MGA 83.6K

$26.14 ฿850

-22.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.11 MGA 191.0K

$84.5 ฿2,748

-45.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.31 MGA 183.6K

$69.4 ฿2,257

-36.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$126 MGA 520.8K

$635 ฿20.6K

-80.21%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 405% 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: $133 vs $243 – 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 122% 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 $575 per month in Manakara and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $22.46 per month in Manakara and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 83% 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 $383 in Manakara and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manakara costs $383 versus $852 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.