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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $774 in Gevgelija, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,174 in Gevgelija, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,575 in Gevgelija, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Gevgelija, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gevgelija are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Gevgelija 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$5.66 MKD 304

-65.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$28.03 MKD 1,505

-34.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.00 MKD 268

49.60%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.43 MKD 76.6

41.26%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.99 MKD 52.9

-14.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.73 MKD 39.30

-50.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.20 MKD 64.4

78.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.70 MKD 145

32.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.33 MKD 71.5

24.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.72 MKD 38.59

118.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.71 MKD 38.30

67.61%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.01 MKD 108

-3.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.70 MKD 414

110.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.76 MKD 309

-48.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.06 MKD 594

-1.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.08 MKD 57.8

150.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.16 MKD 62.5

0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.29 MKD 69.5

31.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.61 MKD 86.7

-0.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.54 MKD 28.84

155.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.40 MKD 21.27

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.36 MKD 19.53

86.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.53 MKD 28.51

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.50 MKD 134

85.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$3.77 MKD 203

367.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.01 MKD 54.4

84.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.49 MKD 79.8

121.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.64 MKD 34.18

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$20.39 MKD 1,095

-5.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.16 MKD 62.1

17.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.50 MKD 26.83

168.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.71 MKD 307

43.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.45 MKD 77.7

-15.86%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$31.8K MKD 1.7M

-32.77%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

-32.93%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$92.7 MKD 4,975

-23.75%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.49 MKD 939

-19.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$15.21 MKD 817

14.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$24.23 MKD 1,300

73.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.64 MKD 249

27.59%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$114 MKD 6,132

170.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,217 MKD 65.3K

1122.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$76.8 MKD 4,125

-27.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$47.95 MKD 2,574

-45.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$56.7 MKD 3,041

46.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$114 MKD 6,116

-38.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$284 MKD 15.2K

52.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$194 MKD 10.4K

23.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$567 MKD 30.4K

45.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$313 MKD 16.8K

63.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$578 MKD 31.0K

0.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-16.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Gevgelija: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $284 in Gevgelija. 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 0% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $28.00 in Gevgelija. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $168 in Gevgelija – so Gevgelija wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Gevgelija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Gevgelija, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,161 in Gevgelija. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gevgelija, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $114 in Gevgelija. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $774 in Gevgelija, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gevgelija costs $774 versus $861 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 Gevgelija. 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.