The Tangchangya are primarily farmers. A small tract of forest would be cut down, the debris burned, and a variety of crops planted. Rice is the primary crop, although cotton, cucumbers, pumpkins, yams, maize, and a wide variety of tropical fruits are also grown. The main agricultural tool is the dao , which is a long knife similar to a machete. The dao is used in nearly every aspect of life, from building houses to harvesting crops.
Common livestock includes cattle, water buffalo, pigs, goats, and sheep.
Nearly all Tangchangya keep dogs. Tangchangya homes are built on wooden or bamboo poles that reach about six feet above the ground. Bamboo is used to make the walls and is also used in the construction of the roofs. Only a few homes have tin roofs. The Tangchangya men work in the fields while the women cook, care for children, clean house, draw water, weave, and wash clothes.