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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $921 in Ohrid, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,517 in Ohrid, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,113 in Ohrid, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Ohrid, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ohrid are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ohrid 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿64.3
$7.29 MKD 387
-72.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿612
$33.87 MKD 1,797
-44.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿252
$6.62 MKD 351
17.07%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿62.5
$2.30 MKD 122
-16.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿25.79
$2.02 MKD 107
-60.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.62
$1.23 MKD 65.2
-70.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$2.66 MKD 141
-16.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$3.30 MKD 175
10.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿53.8
$1.23 MKD 65.3
34.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$0.76 MKD 40.54
114.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.86
$1.73 MKD 92.0
-31.21%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.1
$2.22 MKD 118
-9.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿520
$8.69 MKD 461
83.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿98.5
$7.99 MKD 424
-62.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿354
$13.86 MKD 735
-21.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.0
$0.98 MKD 51.9
181.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.42
$1.41 MKD 75.1
-16.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.32 MKD 69.8
24.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.51
$2.16 MKD 115
-29.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.10
$0.81 MKD 43.04
70.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.84
$0.93 MKD 49.22
27.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿22.86
$0.72 MKD 37.99
-2.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.13
$0.55 MKD 29.13
1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿149
$3.15 MKD 167
45.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿539
$5.46 MKD 290
203.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.5
$1.09 MKD 58.0
67.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿104
$1.32 MKD 70.0
142.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.56
$1.14 MKD 60.7
-22.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿610
$21.31 MKD 1,131
-12.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.16
$0.91 MKD 48.10
49.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.65
$0.49 MKD 26.19
173.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$7.72 MKD 410
1.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.92
$1.52 MKD 80.7
-19.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿704.3K
$34.2K MKD 1.8M
-36.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿734.3K
$29.1K MKD 1.5M
-22.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,298
$160 MKD 8,490
-55.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿445
$17.83 MKD 946
-23.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿568
$19.18 MKD 1,018
-9.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,346
$34.96 MKD 1,855
18.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$18.69 MKD 991
-62.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿188
$6.41 MKD 340
-9.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.0K
$277 MKD 14.7K
10.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿475.9K
$3,504 MKD 185.9K
317.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,817
$76.4 MKD 4,053
-26.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿854
$40.30 MKD 2,139
-34.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,793
$98.4 MKD 5,220
-12.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,353
$110 MKD 5,853
-34.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.0K
$235 MKD 12.5K
82.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,774
$170 MKD 9,016
40.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.6K
$557 MKD 29.6K
46.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.6K
$465 MKD 24.7K
9.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿64.6K
$2,098 MKD 111.3K
-5.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.3K
$1,368 MKD 72.6K
8.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.2K
$629 MKD 33.4K
-1.65%
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 7, 2026

Last update for Ohrid: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $235 in Ohrid. 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 2% higher in Ohrid, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Ohrid. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $206 in Ohrid – so Ohrid 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 Ohrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Ohrid?
Ohrid costs about 6% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Ohrid?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,381 in Ohrid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Ohrid?
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 Ohrid?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $277 in Ohrid. 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 Ohrid?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Ohrid – 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 Ohrid?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $921 in Ohrid, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Ohrid?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $921 in Ohrid. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Ohrid?
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 Ohrid?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ohrid makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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