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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $800 in Struga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,199 in Struga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,598 in Struga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Struga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Struga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Struga 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$7.72 MKD 410

-74.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$30.59 MKD 1,623

-38.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.64 MKD 246

67.03%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.56 MKD 82.9

23.08%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.71 MKD 90.6

-53.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.23 MKD 65.3

-70.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.70 MKD 143

-18.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.40 MKD 180

7.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.14 MKD 60.5

44.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.68 MKD 36.07

139.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.69 MKD 89.6

-29.59%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.99 MKD 106

0.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.78 MKD 360

135.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$5.62 MKD 298

-46.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$9.50 MKD 504

14.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$0.55 MKD 29.10

401.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.29 MKD 68.7

-8.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.96 MKD 50.9

70.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.15 MKD 61.1

32.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.78 MKD 41.26

76.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.96 MKD 50.9

23.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.58 MKD 30.63

20.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.40 MKD 21.02

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.27 MKD 174

40.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$4.63 MKD 246

257.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.10 MKD 58.3

66.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.01 MKD 53.8

216.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.69 MKD 36.42

27.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$19.91 MKD 1,056

-5.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.93 MKD 49.09

46.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.53 MKD 28.31

152.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.54 MKD 400

3.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.46 MKD 77.7

-15.75%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$34.3K MKD 1.8M

-36.94%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$29.8K MKD 1.6M

-24.24%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$92.5 MKD 4,910

-23.77%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$15.25 MKD 809

-10.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$19.70 MKD 1,045

-11.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$26.47 MKD 1,404

56.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$22.13 MKD 1,174

-68.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$6.42 MKD 341

-10.12%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$324 MKD 17.2K

-5.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,183 MKD 62.7K

1135.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$77.0 MKD 4,085

-27.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$27.65 MKD 1,467

-5.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$66.3 MKD 3,519

29.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$37.22 MKD 1,975

94.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$283 MKD 15.0K

51.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$230 MKD 12.2K

3.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$393 MKD 20.9K

107.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$330 MKD 17.5K

54.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,552 MKD 82.4K

27.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,413 MKD 75.0K

5.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$970 MKD 51.4K

-36.18%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Struga: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $283 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 57% 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 – $241 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 9% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,200 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $324 in Struga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $800 in Struga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Struga costs $800 versus $869 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.