How Myanmar compares across key indices
Cost of Living
29 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
25/100
Healthcare
44/100
Quality of Life
73/200
How far your money goes in Myanmar
Cost of Living
29
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
22
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
29
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
31
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Myanmar - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
25/100
Crime Index
80/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Myanmar has 175 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $599 in Thayetmyo to $745 in Nay Pyi Taw. Insein leads on safety, scoring 25/100. Insein ranks highest for quality of life at 80/200.
Thayetmyo
$599/mo
Insein
25/100
Insein
80/200
Yangon
55/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nay Pyi Taw | $745 | 21/100 | 78/200 | 55/100 | 71 |
| Yangon | $717 | 19/100 | 77/200 | 55/100 | 74 |
| Mandalay | $676 | 22/100 | 78/200 | 51/100 | 69 |
| Hlaingthaya | $659 | 23/100 | 79/200 | 49/100 | 67 |
| Mawlamyine | $645 | 24/100 | 79/200 | 47/100 | 65 |
| Kalemyo | $638 | 25/100 | 79/200 | 47/100 | 64 |
| Insein | $627 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 45/100 | 63 |
| Bago | $627 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 45/100 | 63 |
| Amarapura | $626 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 45/100 | 63 |
| Pathein | $626 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 45/100 | 63 |
| Yawnghwe | $619 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 45/100 | 62 |
| Monywa | $618 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 62 |
| Kyaukpyu | $618 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 62 |
| Sittwe | $618 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 62 |
| Meiktila | $618 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 62 |
| Myeik | $616 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 62 |
| Kēng Tung | $616 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 62 |
| Mu-se | $615 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 61 |
| Taunggyi | $614 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 61 |
| Myingyan | $611 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 61 |
| Dawei | $609 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 44/100 | 61 |
| Mingaladon | $609 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 61 |
| Pyay | $609 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 61 |
| Hinthada | $609 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 61 |
| Kyauktan | $609 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Mingala Tangnyunt | $609 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Lashio | $608 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Pakokku | $607 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Thaton | $606 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Ann | $605 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Pyin Oo Lwin | $605 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Möng Yang | $605 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Kyimyindine | $603 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Set Ka Lay | $603 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Yenangyaung | $603 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| Taungoo | $602 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 43/100 | 60 |
| San Chaung | $600 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 42/100 | 59 |
| Thayetmyo | $599 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 42/100 | 59 |
| Pyinmana | $599 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 42/100 | 59 |
| Magway | $599 | 25/100 | 80/200 | 42/100 | 59 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Healthcare system overview for Myanmar
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Myanmar
Pollution Index
65/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
32.3ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Myanmar, answered with data
Myanmar has a cost of living index of 29 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $602 in Taungoo and reach $745 in Nay Pyi Taw.
Taungoo is the most affordable city in Myanmar in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $602 for a single person including rent. Kyimyindine is the next most affordable at $603/mo.
Myanmar has a safety index of 25/100, making it worth researching carefully before committing for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Insein scores highest on safety at 25/100.
Insein ranks highest for quality of life in Myanmar, scoring 80/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $627/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Taungoo offers the lowest monthly costs at $602/mo.
Myanmar scores 44/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it limited in some areas by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Myanmar's cost of living is roughly 71% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 78% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Your pre-departure checklist for Myanmar
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Cost of living, safety, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates modeled from open public sources. Data sources
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