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 $780 in Struga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,193 in Struga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,605 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 36% lower, Struga 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$7.69 MKD 411

-73.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$30.52 MKD 1,631

-38.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.68 MKD 250

67.95%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.51 MKD 80.5

34.44%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.69 MKD 90.4

-52.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$1.29 MKD 69.1

-72.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.66 MKD 142

-19.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.41 MKD 182

7.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.14 MKD 60.9

51.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.63 MKD 33.71

149.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.75 MKD 93.3

-31.43%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.09 MKD 111

-5.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$6.94 MKD 371

133.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$5.62 MKD 300

-45.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$9.51 MKD 508

13.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.57 MKD 30.60

385.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.32 MKD 70.7

-11.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.92 MKD 49.14

85.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.10 MKD 58.9

44.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.77 MKD 40.94

80.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.90 MKD 47.93

28.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.54 MKD 28.86

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.37 MKD 19.66

40.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.14 MKD 168

48.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$3.68 MKD 197

383.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.06 MKD 56.9

68.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.01 MKD 53.9

230.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.69 MKD 36.87

31.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$20.37 MKD 1,089

-8.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.99 MKD 52.7

42.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.53 MKD 28.21

152.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$7.70 MKD 412

5.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.46 MKD 78.1

-15.75%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

-37.02%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

-26.30%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$90.9 MKD 4,858

-21.54%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$14.98 MKD 800

-6.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$19.69 MKD 1,052

-8.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$25.84 MKD 1,381

57.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$22.22 MKD 1,187

-69.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.64 MKD 355

-13.86%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$311 MKD 16.6K

-0.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,179 MKD 63.0K

1145.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$77.9 MKD 4,161

-28.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$27.82 MKD 1,486

-6.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$66.4 MKD 3,546

27.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$37.12 MKD 1,984

91.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$290 MKD 15.5K

46.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$231 MKD 12.3K

5.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$396 MKD 21.2K

101.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$321 MKD 17.2K

57.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,569 MKD 83.9K

22.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,355 MKD 72.4K

8.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$878 MKD 46.9K

-32.26%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Struga: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $290 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 48% 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 – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $156 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,169 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $311 in Struga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 57% 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 $780 in Struga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Struga costs $780 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.