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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $808 in Struga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,194 in Struga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,580 in Struga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Struga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Struga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Struga 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$7.47 MKD 394

-73.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$30.53 MKD 1,610

-38.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.74 MKD 250

67.09%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.58 MKD 83.1

20.89%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.78 MKD 93.7

-52.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.23 MKD 64.8

-71.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.65 MKD 140

-16.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.35 MKD 177

13.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.19 MKD 62.8

37.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.67 MKD 35.56

141.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.76 MKD 92.8

-32.95%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.07 MKD 109

-2.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.68 MKD 352

137.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.49 MKD 289

-45.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.31 MKD 491

15.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$0.55 MKD 28.88

374.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.32 MKD 69.7

-7.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.95 MKD 50.3

78.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.16 MKD 61.0

36.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.72 MKD 38.09

83.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.99 MKD 52.0

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.58 MKD 30.47

15.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.40 MKD 20.93

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.26 MKD 172

38.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$4.63 MKD 244

293.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.10 MKD 57.9

66.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.00 MKD 53.0

223.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.63 MKD 33.22

41.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$20.30 MKD 1,070

-4.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.96 MKD 50.8

40.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.50 MKD 26.25

170.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$7.54 MKD 398

9.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.47 MKD 77.6

-13.61%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

-36.97%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$29.9K MKD 1.6M

-24.76%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$90.7 MKD 4,783

-22.67%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$15.09 MKD 796

-8.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$19.15 MKD 1,010

-8.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$26.68 MKD 1,407

55.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$22.16 MKD 1,169

-70.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.38 MKD 336

-9.40%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$323 MKD 17.0K

-5.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,180 MKD 62.2K

1156.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$78.3 MKD 4,127

-30.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$27.71 MKD 1,461

-5.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$67.0 MKD 3,531

26.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$37.26 MKD 1,965

86.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$287 MKD 15.1K

47.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$230 MKD 12.1K

3.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$387 MKD 20.4K

113.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$318 MKD 16.8K

61.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,626 MKD 85.7K

26.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,431 MKD 75.5K

6.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,009 MKD 53.2K

-37.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

42.86%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Struga: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $287 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 59% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Struga. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $158 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 5% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,212 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $323 in Struga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 54% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $808 in Struga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Struga costs $808 versus $852 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.