Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Delcevo

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Delcevo: $938 and $962 a month, rent and utilities included.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Delcevo
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
$962
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Delcevo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Delcevo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $962 in Delcevo, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $938
  • Delcevo $962

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,414 in Delcevo, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,426
  • Delcevo $1,414

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,867 in Delcevo, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,914
  • Delcevo $1,867

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Delcevo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Delcevo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Delcevo 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Delcevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ฿75.4
$9.61 MKD 524
-76.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.18 ฿641
$11.76 MKD 642
63.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ฿187
$6.56 MKD 358
-14.79%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ฿57.6
$2.07 MKD 113
-16.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$1.82 MKD 99.1
-64.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿11.18
$1.38 MKD 75.1
-76.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿78.7
$1.85 MKD 101
27.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ฿130
$3.07 MKD 168
27.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Delcevo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.6
$1.28 MKD 69.9
60.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ฿46.70
$0.79 MKD 43.17
77.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.89
$1.76 MKD 95.8
-27.27%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.3
$2.44 MKD 133
-7.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿566
$7.85 MKD 428
115.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 ฿91.6
$7.52 MKD 410
-63.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ฿313
$14.89 MKD 812
-37.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.3
$1.42 MKD 77.5
69.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ฿33.92
$1.37 MKD 74.9
-26.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.9
$1.38 MKD 75.2
16.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$1.87 MKD 102
-18.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.90
$0.82 MKD 44.81
56.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.22
$0.79 MKD 42.85
40.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.09
$0.62 MKD 34.06
16.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.54
$0.54 MKD 29.65
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 ฿145
$3.41 MKD 186
26.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.73 ฿593
$7.43 MKD 405
138.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$1.07 MKD 58.4
52.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.3
$1.42 MKD 77.5
100.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Delcevo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.31
$0.73 MKD 39.67
16.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,801
$21.77 MKD 1,188
147.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.18
$1.08 MKD 58.9
8.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿19.00
$0.56 MKD 30.58
1.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ฿79.2
$7.46 MKD 407
-68.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$1.46 MKD 79.8
-0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ฿684.3K
$35.8K MKD 2.0M
-42.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.1K
$27.6K MKD 1.5M
-3.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Delcevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$159 MKD 8,654
-60.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 ฿410
$18.58 MKD 1,013
-33.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.97 ฿668
$19.15 MKD 1,045
4.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Delcevo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 ฿1,267
$23.33 MKD 1,273
62.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.76 ฿126
$19.04 MKD 1,039
-80.25%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿224
$7.39 MKD 403
-9.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Delcevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$350 MKD 19.1K
127.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿495.7K
$5,638 MKD 307.6K
163.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Delcevo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$83.0 MKD 4,527
-35.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.05 ฿837
$37.31 MKD 2,036
-32.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 ฿3,062
$100 MKD 5,470
-8.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,455
$114 MKD 6,194
-35.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Delcevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 ฿15.5K
$275 MKD 15.0K
68.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ฿10.2K
$190 MKD 10.3K
60.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ฿30.6K
$451 MKD 24.6K
102.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$309 MKD 16.9K
78.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 ฿63.9K
$1,541 MKD 84.1K
24.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,438 ฿48.1K
$1,277 MKD 69.7K
12.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Delcevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$451 MKD 24.6K
32.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.23
31.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Delcevo: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$305
Delcevo
$190 37.8% $115
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$238
Delcevo
$210 11.9% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Delcevo
$150 37.3% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$95
Delcevo
$196 108% $102
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Delcevo
$150 89.2% $70
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Delcevo
$29 53.4% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Delcevo
$38 25.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $275 in Delcevo. 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 32% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Delcevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $210 – making Delcevo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇲🇰 Delcevo
🕒 Local time
03:33 3:33 AM
22:33 10:33 PM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
17,505
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MKD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 54.55 MKD (100 MKD = 1.83 USD). 1 EUR = 61.33 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Delcevo 7,500 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Delcevo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Chiang Mai vs Delcevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Delcevo?
Delcevo costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Delcevo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,443 in Delcevo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Delcevo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Delcevo?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $350 in Delcevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Delcevo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Delcevo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Delcevo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Delcevo at $962. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Delcevo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Delcevo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $938 versus $962 in Delcevo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Delcevo?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Delcevo?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Delcevo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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