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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $798 in Gostivar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,195 in Gostivar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,592 in Gostivar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Gostivar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gostivar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Gostivar 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$5.13 MKD 272

-61.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$23.07 MKD 1,224

-18.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.98 MKD 264

55.62%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.39 MKD 73.5

38.13%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.16 MKD 61.7

-31.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.15 MKD 61.0

-68.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.39 MKD 73.7

58.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.91 MKD 101

91.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.34 MKD 71.1

23.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.71 MKD 37.73

129.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.54 MKD 81.7

-22.73%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.12 MKD 113

-5.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.39 MKD 339

150.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$5.52 MKD 293

-45.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$13.64 MKD 724

-20.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.06 MKD 56.4

160.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.44 MKD 76.6

-18.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.32 MKD 69.9

24.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.58 MKD 83.8

-3.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.94 MKD 49.73

46.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.72 MKD 38.34

65.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.54 MKD 28.92

29.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.56 MKD 29.78

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.80 MKD 148

63.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$4.60 MKD 244

260.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.96 MKD 51.0

90.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.53 MKD 81.1

109.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.68 MKD 36.30

29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$19.86 MKD 1,054

-5.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.97 MKD 51.7

40.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.36 MKD 18.94

272.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.47 MKD 343

21.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.47 MKD 78.2

-16.33%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$31.5K MKD 1.7M

-31.41%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$46.2K MKD 2.5M

-51.25%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$131 MKD 6,939

-46.06%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$11.32 MKD 601

20.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$15.23 MKD 808

14.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$26.46 MKD 1,404

56.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.79 MKD 254

20.46%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$219 MKD 11.6K

40.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,209 MKD 64.2K

1108.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$37.49 MKD 1,989

48.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$38.20 MKD 2,027

-31.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$73.7 MKD 3,908

16.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$113 MKD 5,985

-35.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$283 MKD 15.0K

52.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$193 MKD 10.2K

23.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$555 MKD 29.5K

47.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$305 MKD 16.2K

67.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,656 MKD 87.9K

19.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,252 MKD 66.4K

18.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$885 MKD 47.0K

-30.07%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $283 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 43% 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 – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $180 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 9% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,197 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $219 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $798 in Gostivar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gostivar costs $798 versus $869 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.