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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $435 per month in Toamasina vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

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

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

Toamasina is about 50% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 MGA 11.5K

$1.98 ฿64.3

37.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.46 MGA 64.9K

$18.80 ฿612

-17.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MGA 19.2K

$7.75 ฿252

-41.03%

Cappuccino

$1.22 MGA 5,100

$1.92 ฿62.5

-36.46%

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

$0.69 MGA 2,887

$0.79 ฿25.79

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 MGA 2,913

$0.36 ฿11.62

91.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 MGA 3,380

$2.21 ฿72.1

-63.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 MGA 4,575

$3.66 ฿119

-70.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 MGA 3,871

$1.65 ฿53.8

-44.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MGA 2,873

$1.63 ฿53.2

-58.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 MGA 2,702

$1.19 ฿38.86

-46.22%

Eggs

$1.85 MGA 7,742

$2.00 ฿65.1

-7.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 MGA 43.8K

$15.98 ฿520

-34.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 MGA 28.7K

$3.03 ฿98.5

126.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.21 MGA 21.8K

$10.86 ฿354

-52.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.41 MGA 5,915

$2.76 ฿90.0

-48.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 MGA 3,596

$1.18 ฿38.42

-27.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 MGA 5,641

$1.64 ฿53.5

-18.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 MGA 3,409

$1.52 ฿49.51

-46.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 MGA 2,028

$1.38 ฿45.10

-65.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,853

$1.19 ฿38.84

-42.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 MGA 1,322

$0.70 ฿22.86

-54.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MGA 2,087

$0.56 ฿18.13

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.71 MGA 7,195

$4.58 ฿149

-62.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 MGA 3,733

$1.83 ฿59.5

-51.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MGA 4,743

$3.20 ฿104

-64.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 MGA 1,339

$0.88 ฿28.56

-63.64%

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)

$1.07 MGA 4,502

$1.23 ฿39.92

-13.01%

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)

$19.18 MGA 80.5K

$13.68 ฿445

40.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 MGA 283.8K

$17.45 ฿568

287.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.48 MGA 94.3K

$41.33 ฿1,346

-45.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 MGA 28.2K

$5.77 ฿188

16.46%

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)

$8.63 MGA 36.2K

$55.8 ฿1,817

-84.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.86 MGA 28.8K

$26.21 ฿854

-73.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.4 MGA 228.4K

$85.8 ฿2,793

-36.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.77 MGA 158.5K

$72.2 ฿2,353

-47.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$131 MGA 548.3K

$430 ฿14.0K

-69.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$55.4 MGA 232.3K

$239 ฿7,774

-76.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 MGA 1.9M

$817 ฿26.6K

-44.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 MGA 569.5K

$511 ฿16.6K

-73.42%

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)

$146 MGA 610.9K

$619 ฿20.2K

-76.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Toamasina: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $131 in Toamasina versus $430 in Chiang Mai. 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 $15.00 in Toamasina versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $146 vs $241 – 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

Toamasina vs Chiang Mai: 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 $652 per month in Toamasina and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. 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 $435 in Toamasina and $869 in Chiang Mai. 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 $435 in Toamasina and $869 in Chiang Mai, 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.