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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $813 in Gostivar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,191 in Gostivar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,570 in Gostivar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Gostivar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gostivar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Gostivar 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.1

$5.19 MKD 277

-60.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$23.38 MKD 1,249

-19.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.03 MKD 269

56.26%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.6

$1.44 MKD 76.7

40.97%

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

$0.80 ฿26.63

$1.15 MKD 61.4

-30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$1.16 MKD 61.7

-69.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.35 MKD 72.0

58.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.84 MKD 98.3

99.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.41 MKD 75.2

22.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.67 MKD 35.61

134.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.98

$1.54 MKD 82.2

-22.08%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.09 MKD 112

-5.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$6.66 MKD 356

143.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$5.79 MKD 309

-47.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$13.47 MKD 719

-19.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.08 MKD 57.5

156.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.93

$1.42 MKD 76.0

-17.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿56.9

$1.26 MKD 67.2

35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.63 MKD 87.2

-2.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.49

$0.98 MKD 52.3

41.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.55

$0.78 MKD 41.89

48.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.54 MKD 28.78

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.30

$0.56 MKD 29.92

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.78 MKD 148

67.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$4.71 MKD 251

277.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$0.90 MKD 48.32

98.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.54 MKD 82.1

116.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.26

$0.63 MKD 33.59

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$20.00 MKD 1,068

-6.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.02

$0.93 MKD 49.55

51.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.69

$0.35 MKD 18.77

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$6.60 MKD 352

22.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.14

$1.44 MKD 77.2

-14.58%

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

$21.4K ฿714.9K

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

-32.81%

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

$21.8K ฿727.8K

$46.2K MKD 2.5M

-52.72%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$132 MKD 7,073

-46.15%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$11.05 MKD 590

26.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$15.45 MKD 825

16.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,361

$26.09 MKD 1,393

56.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.67 MKD 249

22.48%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$218 MKD 11.6K

41.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.5K

$1,197 MKD 63.9K

1126.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$37.51 MKD 2,003

48.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿868

$38.26 MKD 2,043

-31.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,828

$74.2 MKD 3,961

14.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$114 MKD 6,088

-37.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$280 MKD 15.0K

50.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,086

$193 MKD 10.3K

25.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$569 MKD 30.4K

40.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$315 MKD 16.8K

61.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,584 MKD 84.6K

21.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,238 MKD 66.1K

18.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.8K

$887 MKD 47.4K

-32.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

-23.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $280 in Gostivar. 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 49% higher in Gostivar, 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 $23.00 in Gostivar. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $182 in Gostivar – so Gostivar 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 Gostivar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Gostivar, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,219 in Gostivar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $218 in Gostivar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $813 in Gostivar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gostivar costs $813 versus $852 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 Gostivar. 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.