🙂A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $900 in Kicevo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,315 in Kicevo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,729 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 Mai36% lower, Kicevo32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿63.6
$4.12MKD 218
-52.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39฿598
$19.12MKD 1,012
-3.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87฿256
$4.82MKD 255
63.28%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.4
$1.11MKD 58.6
75.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.57
$1.28MKD 67.7
-33.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.52
$0.54MKD 28.37
-40.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿69.6
$1.84MKD 97.2
16.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68฿120
$2.76MKD 146
33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66฿53.9
$1.27MKD 67.5
30.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.7
$0.82MKD 43.53
90.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.63
$1.69MKD 89.8
-29.59%
Eggs
$1.99฿64.7
$2.15MKD 114
-7.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.24฿528
$9.46MKD 501
71.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿103
$7.84MKD 415
-59.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿352
$13.62MKD 721
-20.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65฿86.2
$1.03MKD 54.5
157.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.67
$1.42MKD 75.0
-14.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.7
$1.32MKD 69.7
25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55฿50.3
$2.05MKD 108
-24.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33฿43.17
$0.86MKD 45.70
54.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.43
$0.99MKD 52.2
22.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68฿22.04
$0.68MKD 36.16
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.38
$0.59MKD 31.39
-3.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68฿152
$3.26MKD 173
43.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99฿552
$5.81MKD 307
192.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿59.3
$1.06MKD 56.4
71.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿103
$1.55MKD 82.2
105.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿29.46
$0.68MKD 35.98
33.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.74฿609
$20.14MKD 1,067
-6.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.80
$0.97MKD 51.2
45.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.52
$0.49MKD 25.90
173.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14฿265
$7.73MKD 409
5.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.53
$1.48MKD 78.4
-13.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿709.3K
$33.8KMKD 1.8M
-35.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K฿728.0K
$29.5KMKD 1.6M
-24.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,291
$162MKD 8,560
-56.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05฿457
$18.03MKD 955
-22.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65฿574
$19.27MKD 1,021
-8.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29฿1,342
$26.24MKD 1,390
57.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.96฿194
$6.64MKD 352
-10.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303฿9,846
$314MKD 16.6K
-3.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿486.2K
$1,203MKD 63.7K
1143.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,778
$76.3MKD 4,043
-28.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29฿854
$39.52MKD 2,093
-33.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,788
$98.3MKD 5,208
-12.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7฿2,265
$112MKD 5,915
-37.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿13.9K
$285MKD 15.1K
50.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,769
$196MKD 10.4K
21.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.4K
$555MKD 29.4K
46.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510฿16.6K
$306MKD 16.2K
66.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,025฿65.8K
$1,628MKD 86.2K
24.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502฿48.8K
$1,259MKD 66.7K
19.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$623฿20.2K
$590MKD 31.3K
5.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.54
10.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Last update for Kicevo: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $285 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 6% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Kicevo. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $208 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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kicevo?
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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Kicevo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,350 in Kicevo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kicevo?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Kicevo?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $314 in Kicevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Kicevo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Kicevo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Kicevo?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $900 in Kicevo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kicevo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $900 in Kicevo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kicevo?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Kicevo?
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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared