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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $999 in Ohrid, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,590 in Ohrid, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,181 in Ohrid, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 8% cheaper than Ohrid, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ohrid are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Ohrid 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$7.56 MKD 397

-72.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$37.29 MKD 1,955

-47.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$7.61 MKD 399

-23.13%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.76 MKD 145

-36.23%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$3.02 MKD 159

-75.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$1.85 MKD 96.8

-82.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$3.70 MKD 194

-33.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$4.76 MKD 250

-18.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.28 MKD 67.2

48.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.73 MKD 38.27

128.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.80 MKD 94.2

-25.00%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.26 MKD 118

-5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$8.56 MKD 449

85.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$8.57 MKD 449

-66.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$14.79 MKD 775

-28.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.06 MKD 55.5

124.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.33 MKD 69.6

-19.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.55 MKD 81.5

-1.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.97 MKD 103

-23.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.16 MKD 60.7

10.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.48 MKD 77.7

-25.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$1.11 MKD 58.3

-37.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.76 MKD 40.04

-35.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$3.42 MKD 179

24.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$5.80 MKD 304

189.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.14 MKD 59.5

45.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.60 MKD 83.8

75.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$1.11 MKD 58.0

-18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$24.85 MKD 1,303

120.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$1.14 MKD 60.0

5.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.97 MKD 50.9

-44.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$9.29 MKD 487

-74.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.55 MKD 81.5

-7.74%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$31.4K MKD 1.6M

-32.92%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$31.1K MKD 1.6M

-12.81%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$132 MKD 6,909

-50.87%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$18.95 MKD 994

-30.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$28.39 MKD 1,489

-31.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$34.62 MKD 1,815

13.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$18.77 MKD 984

-79.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$6.54 MKD 343

1.22%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$283 MKD 14.9K

184.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$3,537 MKD 185.4K

327.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$101 MKD 5,271

-45.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$54.5 MKD 2,858

-53.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$102 MKD 5,335

-9.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$135 MKD 7,057

-44.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$291 MKD 15.3K

60.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$178 MKD 9,308

58.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$567 MKD 29.7K

57.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$374 MKD 19.6K

39.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$2,118 MKD 111.0K

-6.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,366 MKD 71.6K

7.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$634 MKD 33.2K

-6.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.3

-23.70%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Ohrid: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $291 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 7% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Ohrid. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $219 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

Ohrid costs about 9% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,498 in Ohrid. 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 $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $283 in Ohrid. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Ohrid – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Ohrid at $999. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ohrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $920 versus $999 in Ohrid. 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, Ohrid makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.