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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $905 in Kicevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,318 in Kicevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,730 in Kicevo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Kicevo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Kicevo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kicevo 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$4.10 MKD 219

-50.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$18.99 MKD 1,015

-1.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.69 MKD 250

67.59%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.11 MKD 59.3

82.88%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.27 MKD 68.1

-37.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.55 MKD 29.27

-36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.89 MKD 101

13.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.90 MKD 155

26.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.33 MKD 70.9

30.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.83 MKD 44.11

89.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.74 MKD 92.7

-31.03%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.26 MKD 121

-12.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$9.36 MKD 500

73.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$7.88 MKD 421

-61.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$13.72 MKD 733

-21.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.05 MKD 56.2

163.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.42 MKD 76.1

-17.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.38 MKD 73.7

23.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.09 MKD 112

-23.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.81 MKD 43.18

71.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.97 MKD 51.9

19.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.72 MKD 38.72

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.55 MKD 29.38

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.26 MKD 174

42.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$5.60 MKD 299

217.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.05 MKD 56.4

70.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.56 MKD 83.2

114.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.63 MKD 33.91

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$19.94 MKD 1,066

-6.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.95 MKD 50.9

48.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.49 MKD 26.22

173.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$7.54 MKD 403

7.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.47 MKD 78.4

-16.33%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

-36.60%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

-26.19%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$161 MKD 8,604

-55.70%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$18.15 MKD 970

-22.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$19.53 MKD 1,044

-8.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$25.81 MKD 1,379

58.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.48 MKD 346

-11.73%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$312 MKD 16.7K

-1.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,184 MKD 63.3K

1139.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$75.8 MKD 4,050

-26.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$39.83 MKD 2,128

-34.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$99.1 MKD 5,294

-14.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$110 MKD 5,856

-35.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$286 MKD 15.3K

48.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$198 MKD 10.6K

22.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$573 MKD 30.6K

39.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$309 MKD 16.5K

63.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,591 MKD 85.0K

20.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,247 MKD 66.6K

17.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$594 MKD 31.7K

0.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

10.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kicevo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $286 in Kicevo. 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 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 $19.00 in Kicevo. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $209 in Kicevo – so Kicevo 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 Kicevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kicevo costs about 6% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,358 in Kicevo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $312 in Kicevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Kicevo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $905 in Kicevo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $905 in Kicevo. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kicevo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.