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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $898 in Struga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,355 in Struga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,812 in Struga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Struga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Struga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Struga 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$7.42 MKD 395

-71.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$30.35 MKD 1,614

-35.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.47 MKD 291

3.66%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.57 MKD 83.7

15.29%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.89 MKD 100

-59.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.25 MKD 66.7

-72.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.76 MKD 147

-19.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.35 MKD 178

13.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.29 MKD 68.8

58.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.75 MKD 39.67

101.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.59 MKD 84.4

-11.95%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.09 MKD 111

8.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$7.86 MKD 418

105.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$6.72 MKD 357

-56.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$13.02 MKD 693

-27.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.40 MKD 74.6

91.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.40 MKD 74.2

-22.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.30 MKD 69.1

24.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.65 MKD 87.6

-11.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.83 MKD 44.39

54.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.86 MKD 45.79

23.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.65 MKD 34.53

10.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.58 MKD 30.77

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.54 MKD 188

19.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$4.57 MKD 243

300.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.09 MKD 58.0

49.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.54 MKD 81.8

88.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.92 MKD 48.84

-4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$56.5 MKD 3,006

-4.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.12 MKD 59.4

4.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.60 MKD 31.67

-3.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$5.07 MKD 270

-52.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.51 MKD 80.3

-3.97%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$36.3K MKD 1.9M

-42.07%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$27.8K MKD 1.5M

-4.94%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$101 MKD 5,364

-36.90%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$11.22 MKD 597

14.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$18.94 MKD 1,007

8.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$20.17 MKD 1,073

93.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$12.07 MKD 642

-67.52%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$7.56 MKD 402

-12.96%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$124 MKD 6,571

534.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,650 MKD 87.7K

789.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$86.9 MKD 4,622

-36.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$31.90 MKD 1,696

-22.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$74.4 MKD 3,956

26.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$55.1 MKD 2,929

34.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$280 MKD 14.9K

74.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$227 MKD 12.1K

26.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$451 MKD 24.0K

97.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$370 MKD 19.7K

40.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,552 MKD 82.5K

27.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,404 MKD 74.7K

2.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$879 MKD 46.7K

-31.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.75

48.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Struga: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $280 in Struga. 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 46% higher in Struga, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Struga. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $192 in Struga – so Struga 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 Struga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Struga, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,347 in Struga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Struga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $124 in Struga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Struga, where all-in costs run around $898, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Struga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Struga costs $898 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. 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 Struga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.