🙂A single person spends $872 per month in Chiang Mai vs $895 in Kicevo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,337 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,315 in Kicevo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,735 in Kicevo, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Kicevo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Kicevo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Kicevo34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01฿64.5
$4.11MKD 215
-51.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23฿584
$18.61MKD 973
-2.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65฿245
$4.62MKD 242
65.58%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿61.5
$1.15MKD 60.2
66.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿26.97
$1.34MKD 70.1
-37.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.42
$0.54MKD 28.24
-33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19฿70.2
$1.83MKD 95.8
19.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿121
$2.75MKD 144
37.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿52.5
$1.29MKD 67.5
27.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿52.0
$0.83MKD 43.40
95.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15฿36.98
$1.70MKD 88.7
-32.35%
Eggs
$1.94฿62.2
$2.24MKD 117
-13.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.94฿511
$9.15MKD 478
74.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10฿99.5
$8.17MKD 427
-62.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.07฿355
$13.82MKD 723
-19.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿86.8
$1.06MKD 55.7
155.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿37.80
$1.42MKD 74.5
-16.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿54.7
$1.36MKD 71.1
25.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61฿51.5
$2.09MKD 109
-22.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿44.66
$0.81MKD 42.32
71.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15฿36.81
$0.94MKD 49.09
22.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71฿22.83
$0.69MKD 35.85
2.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿17.65
$0.56MKD 29.08
-1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57฿146
$3.23MKD 169
41.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.87฿605
$5.55MKD 290
240.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿58.4
$1.10MKD 57.7
65.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21฿103
$1.51MKD 79.2
112.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.24
$0.64MKD 33.29
37.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.89฿606
$20.07MKD 1,050
-5.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.30
$0.98MKD 51.2
43.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.30฿41.71
$0.53MKD 27.49
145.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20฿263
$7.54MKD 395
8.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.29
$1.53MKD 79.9
-19.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿678.9K
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
-38.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K฿715.3K
$29.4KMKD 1.5M
-24.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.9฿2,240
$163MKD 8,502
-57.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07฿451
$18.17MKD 950
-22.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70฿567
$19.69MKD 1,030
-10.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.41฿1,328
$26.69MKD 1,396
55.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69฿215
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.74฿184
$6.64MKD 347
-13.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,593
$320MKD 16.8K
-6.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿481.2K
$1,196MKD 62.6K
1154.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8฿1,758
$77.4MKD 4,045
-29.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35฿845
$40.42MKD 2,114
-34.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.7฿2,714
$98.6MKD 5,154
-14.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7฿2,236
$111MKD 5,792
-37.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$427฿13.7K
$285MKD 14.9K
50.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241฿7,718
$196MKD 10.3K
22.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.0K
$555MKD 29.0K
46.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498฿16.0K
$307MKD 16.0K
62.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,022฿64.8K
$1,606MKD 84.0K
25.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,524฿48.9K
$1,192MKD 62.3K
27.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$639฿20.5K
$610MKD 31.9K
4.80%
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: April 13, 2026
Last update for Kicevo: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $427 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 5% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $19 in Kicevo. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $210 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 3% 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 $1,308 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,343 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $320 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 17% 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 $872 in Chiang Mai and $895 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 $872 versus $895 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