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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $887 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,323 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,759 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Sveti Nikole 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$5.74 MKD 302

-66.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$28.63 MKD 1,509

-34.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.21 MKD 275

50.10%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.73 MKD 91.4

12.72%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.67 MKD 88.3

-49.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.26 MKD 66.5

-72.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.20 MKD 116

-3.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.69 MKD 142

38.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.29 MKD 68.1

32.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.71 MKD 37.59

129.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.72 MKD 90.7

-33.72%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.08 MKD 110

-7.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.30 MKD 438

95.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.47 MKD 341

-51.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.33 MKD 703

-18.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.07 MKD 56.5

157.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.45 MKD 76.2

-16.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.27 MKD 66.7

27.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.58 MKD 83.1

0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.94 MKD 49.70

48.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.99 MKD 52.3

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.62 MKD 32.51

6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.53 MKD 27.75

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.06 MKD 161

53.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.48 MKD 341

187.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.01 MKD 53.3

78.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.46 MKD 76.8

121.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.65 MKD 34.20

38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$20.07 MKD 1,058

-4.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.29 MKD 68.2

9.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.49 MKD 25.87

163.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.44 MKD 339

21.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.43 MKD 75.5

-11.19%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

-33.69%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

-25.86%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$145 MKD 7,619

-52.23%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$17.35 MKD 915

-18.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$15.43 MKD 813

16.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$26.73 MKD 1,409

53.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.60 MKD 243

28.70%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$215 MKD 11.4K

38.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,226 MKD 64.6K

1119.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$76.1 MKD 4,009

-28.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$39.12 MKD 2,061

-31.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$74.4 MKD 3,922

14.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$111 MKD 5,860

-36.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$281 MKD 14.8K

52.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$198 MKD 10.4K

19.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$563 MKD 29.7K

42.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$309 MKD 16.3K

66.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,644 MKD 86.6K

20.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,276 MKD 67.3K

15.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$568 MKD 29.9K

8.67%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $281 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 9% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Sveti Nikole. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $194 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 2% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,331 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $215 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 27% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $887 in Sveti Nikole, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $887 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.