Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sveti Nikole Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sveti Nikole

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $885 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,299 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,713 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sveti Nikole 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$5.66 MKD 303

-65.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$27.68 MKD 1,485

-33.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.13 MKD 275

45.81%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.71 MKD 91.9

18.13%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.61 MKD 86.3

-47.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$1.23 MKD 66.2

-70.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.32 MKD 124

-7.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.74 MKD 147

31.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.25 MKD 66.8

32.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.73 MKD 39.37

115.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.69 MKD 90.7

-29.59%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.04 MKD 110

-4.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$8.56 MKD 459

89.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.33 MKD 339

-52.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.78 MKD 739

-20.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.07 MKD 57.4

153.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.37 MKD 73.6

-14.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.25 MKD 67.0

35.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.63 MKD 87.5

-1.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.95 MKD 50.8

45.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.91 MKD 48.76

31.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.61 MKD 32.50

9.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.54 MKD 28.75

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.07 MKD 165

51.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.62 MKD 355

166.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$0.96 MKD 51.4

93.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.52 MKD 81.6

117.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.64 MKD 34.09

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$20.57 MKD 1,103

-5.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.34 MKD 72.0

1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.50 MKD 26.71

168.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.69 MKD 359

22.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.42 MKD 76.1

-14.08%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$31.7K MKD 1.7M

-32.71%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$29.5K MKD 1.6M

-23.61%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$146 MKD 7,851

-51.71%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.61 MKD 944

-20.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$15.28 MKD 820

14.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$26.21 MKD 1,406

60.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.58 MKD 246

29.26%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$223 MKD 12.0K

38.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$1,208 MKD 64.8K

1131.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$76.2 MKD 4,085

-26.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$40.34 MKD 2,164

-35.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$76.0 MKD 4,079

9.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$113 MKD 6,050

-37.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$280 MKD 15.0K

54.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$193 MKD 10.3K

23.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$573 MKD 30.7K

43.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$305 MKD 16.4K

67.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,602 MKD 85.9K

19.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,274 MKD 68.3K

15.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$561 MKD 30.1K

3.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

10.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $280 in Sveti Nikole. 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 3% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $28.00 in Sveti Nikole. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Sveti Nikole – so Sveti Nikole 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 Sveti Nikole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sveti Nikole costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,327 in Sveti Nikole. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $223 in Sveti Nikole. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Sveti Nikole – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $885 in Sveti Nikole, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $885 in Sveti Nikole. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sveti Nikole makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.