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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $868 in Gostivar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,295 in Gostivar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,721 in Gostivar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Gostivar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gostivar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Gostivar 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$6.51 MKD 346

-68.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$28.17 MKD 1,498

-30.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.07 MKD 323

-6.59%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.39 MKD 74.0

30.22%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.38 MKD 73.2

-44.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.10 MKD 58.6

-68.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.33 MKD 70.7

66.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.93 MKD 103

96.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.33 MKD 70.7

54.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.73 MKD 39.04

106.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.47 MKD 78.4

-4.76%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.46 MKD 131

-8.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$6.50 MKD 345

149.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$5.72 MKD 304

-49.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$15.27 MKD 812

-38.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.46 MKD 77.9

83.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.44 MKD 76.6

-24.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.35 MKD 71.7

20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.86 MKD 98.8

-21.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.89 MKD 47.32

43.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.72 MKD 38.29

47.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.60 MKD 32.02

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.59 MKD 31.20

-10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.89 MKD 154

46.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$4.60 MKD 245

297.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.97 MKD 51.4

68.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.46 MKD 77.7

98.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.68 MKD 36.33

29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$25.14 MKD 1,337

113.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.79 MKD 41.81

48.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.34 MKD 18.24

70.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$7.84 MKD 417

-69.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.54 MKD 81.8

-5.84%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

-37.19%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$28.6K MKD 1.5M

-7.69%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$131 MKD 6,951

-51.30%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$11.29 MKD 600

14.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$18.88 MKD 1,004

8.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$25.62 MKD 1,362

52.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$19.14 MKD 1,018

-79.52%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$7.63 MKD 406

-13.76%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$366 MKD 19.5K

114.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$5,823 MKD 309.6K

151.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$37.84 MKD 2,012

45.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$36.88 MKD 1,961

-32.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$106 MKD 5,636

-11.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$115 MKD 6,137

-35.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$271 MKD 14.4K

80.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$195 MKD 10.4K

48.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$471 MKD 25.1K

89.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$304 MKD 16.1K

71.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,532 MKD 81.5K

28.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,155 MKD 61.4K

25.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$882 MKD 46.9K

-31.77%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $271 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 47% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $28.00 in Gostivar. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $191 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 7% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,302 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $366 in Gostivar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 Gostivar, where all-in costs run around $868, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Gostivar 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. Gostivar costs $868 versus $932 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.