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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $826 in Gevgelija, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,263 in Gevgelija, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,701 in Gevgelija, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Gevgelija, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gevgelija are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Gevgelija 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$7.54 MKD 398

-72.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$33.18 MKD 1,749

-40.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.71 MKD 301

-1.05%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.41 MKD 74.6

28.37%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.99 MKD 52.4

-28.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.67 MKD 35.34

-52.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.22 MKD 64.1

83.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.12 MKD 164

16.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.30 MKD 68.3

50.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.68 MKD 35.76

120.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$0.77 MKD 40.64

74.03%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.24 MKD 118

0.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$7.41 MKD 391

119.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.63 MKD 297

-47.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$11.42 MKD 602

-12.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.14 MKD 60.4

125.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.15 MKD 60.9

-7.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.39 MKD 73.2

15.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.87 MKD 98.9

-18.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.56 MKD 29.33

126.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.40 MKD 20.85

167.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.39 MKD 20.76

84.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.59 MKD 31.11

-13.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.38 MKD 126

76.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$3.87 MKD 204

361.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.10 MKD 57.8

53.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.48 MKD 78.0

91.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.72 MKD 37.98

29.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$27.11 MKD 1,429

98.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$1.16 MKD 61.1

6.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.68 MKD 35.90

-14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$5.81 MKD 306

-58.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.55 MKD 81.6

-9.03%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$36.4K MKD 1.9M

-41.15%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$28.9K MKD 1.5M

-5.27%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$95.5 MKD 5,034

-33.30%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$19.01 MKD 1,002

-32.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$19.87 MKD 1,048

1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$24.40 MKD 1,287

58.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$17.34 MKD 914

-77.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$5.74 MKD 303

17.42%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$115 MKD 6,068

576.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$5,654 MKD 298.1K

158.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$90.8 MKD 4,787

-40.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$39.26 MKD 2,070

-35.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$56.8 MKD 2,997

65.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$117 MKD 6,150

-37.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$259 MKD 13.7K

88.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$202 MKD 10.6K

43.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$396 MKD 20.9K

125.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$272 MKD 14.4K

89.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,528 MKD 80.6K

27.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,262 MKD 66.6K

16.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$582 MKD 30.7K

3.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.25

31.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Gevgelija: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $259 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 3% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Gevgelija. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $171 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 15% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,238 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $115 in Gevgelija. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gevgelija, where all-in costs run around $826, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Gevgelija it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gevgelija costs $826 versus $947 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.