🙂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 Mai35% lower, Ohrid31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$7.29MKD 387
-72.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$33.87MKD 1,797
-44.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$6.62MKD 351
17.07%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$2.30MKD 122
-16.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$2.02MKD 107
-60.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$1.23MKD 65.2
-70.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$2.66MKD 141
-16.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$3.30MKD 175
10.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$1.23MKD 65.3
34.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.76MKD 40.54
114.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.73MKD 92.0
-31.21%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$2.22MKD 118
-9.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$8.69MKD 461
83.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$7.99MKD 424
-62.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$13.86MKD 735
-21.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$0.98MKD 51.9
181.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$1.41MKD 75.1
-16.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.32MKD 69.8
24.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$2.16MKD 115
-29.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$0.81MKD 43.04
70.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$0.93MKD 49.22
27.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.72MKD 37.99
-2.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.55MKD 29.13
1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$3.15MKD 167
45.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$5.46MKD 290
203.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$1.09MKD 58.0
67.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$1.32MKD 70.0
142.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$1.14MKD 60.7
-22.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
$21.31MKD 1,131
-12.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$0.91MKD 48.10
49.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$0.49MKD 26.19
173.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$7.72MKD 410
1.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$1.52MKD 80.7
-19.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$34.2KMKD 1.8M
-36.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$29.1KMKD 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
$160MKD 8,490
-55.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$17.83MKD 946
-23.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$19.18MKD 1,018
-9.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$34.96MKD 1,855
18.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$18.69MKD 991
-62.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$6.41MKD 340
-9.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$277MKD 14.7K
10.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$3,504MKD 185.9K
317.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$76.4MKD 4,053
-26.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$40.30MKD 2,139
-34.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$98.4MKD 5,220
-12.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$110MKD 5,853
-34.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$235MKD 12.5K
82.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$170MKD 9,016
40.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$557MKD 29.6K
46.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$465MKD 24.7K
9.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
$2,098MKD 111.3K
-5.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
$1,368MKD 72.6K
8.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ohrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$629MKD 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared