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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $894 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,352 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,811 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sveti Nikole 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$9.38 MKD 495

-77.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$34.67 MKD 1,828

-43.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.40 MKD 285

4.63%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.75 MKD 92.1

3.43%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$1.45 MKD 76.5

-51.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$1.01 MKD 53.5

-68.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.58 MKD 83.3

41.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.86 MKD 98.3

95.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.40 MKD 74.1

40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.56 MKD 29.58

167.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.20 MKD 63.3

11.67%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.55 MKD 135

-11.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$9.66 MKD 509

68.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.64 MKD 245

-36.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$12.40 MKD 654

-19.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.39 MKD 73.4

84.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.36 MKD 71.6

-22.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.35 MKD 71.4

19.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.78 MKD 93.8

-14.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.79 MKD 41.50

60.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$1.21 MKD 63.9

-11.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.83 MKD 43.89

-13.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.41 MKD 21.58

24.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.13 MKD 165

33.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$6.45 MKD 340

177.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.06 MKD 55.8

59.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.47 MKD 77.7

93.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.78 MKD 41.20

19.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$25.00 MKD 1,318

115.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$1.55 MKD 81.8

-20.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$1.06 MKD 56.0

-45.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$3.83 MKD 202

-36.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.44 MKD 76.1

-2.08%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

-36.63%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

-2.38%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$152 MKD 8,017

-58.12%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$15.96 MKD 841

-19.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$12.48 MKD 658

62.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$23.62 MKD 1,245

64.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$16.78 MKD 885

-76.34%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$5.21 MKD 275

29.37%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$356 MKD 18.8K

118.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$4,864 MKD 256.5K

200.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$77.0 MKD 4,062

-29.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$33.42 MKD 1,762

-23.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$83.6 MKD 4,410

12.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$88.8 MKD 4,685

-17.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$312 MKD 16.5K

56.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$184 MKD 9,690

57.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$491 MKD 25.9K

82.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$305 MKD 16.1K

69.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,613 MKD 85.0K

21.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,204 MKD 63.5K

22.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$569 MKD 30.0K

5.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.25

31.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $312 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 6% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Sveti Nikole. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $188 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

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Sveti Nikole, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,341 in Sveti Nikole. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $356 in Sveti Nikole. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sveti Nikole, where all-in costs run around $894, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Sveti Nikole 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. Sveti Nikole costs $894 versus $947 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 Sveti Nikole. 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.