Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tetovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tetovo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $998 in Tetovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,481 in Tetovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,963 in Tetovo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Tetovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tetovo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Tetovo 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$5.80 MKD 306

-66.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$25.17 MKD 1,327

-25.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.15 MKD 271

51.84%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.46 MKD 77.1

33.56%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.48 MKD 78.1

-42.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.95 MKD 50.3

-63.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.22 MKD 117

-4.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.20 MKD 116

69.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.25 MKD 66.0

36.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.64 MKD 33.91

154.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.35 MKD 71.2

-15.56%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.09 MKD 110

-7.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.34 MKD 387

120.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.29 MKD 279

-41.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.45 MKD 551

4.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.08 MKD 56.9

154.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.39 MKD 73.2

-12.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.02 MKD 53.5

58.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.57 MKD 83.0

1.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.92 MKD 48.29

52.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.72 MKD 38.10

62.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.85 MKD 44.75

-22.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.55 MKD 29.21

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.12 MKD 165

50.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$4.80 MKD 253

288.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.01 MKD 53.2

78.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.47 MKD 77.3

119.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.36 MKD 19.22

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$11.24 MKD 592

70.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.15 MKD 60.7

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.50 MKD 26.33

158.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.66 MKD 351

17.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.50 MKD 78.9

-15.33%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$32.0K MKD 1.7M

-33.55%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$33.9K MKD 1.8M

-34.57%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$144 MKD 7,611

-52.17%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$17.60 MKD 928

-20.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$15.27 MKD 804

17.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$90.4 MKD 4,761

-54.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.63 MKD 244

27.86%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$222 MKD 11.7K

34.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,221 MKD 117.1K

573.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$67.0 MKD 3,533

-18.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$47.33 MKD 2,494

-43.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$74.8 MKD 3,940

13.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$111 MKD 5,848

-36.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$369 MKD 19.5K

15.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$285 MKD 15.0K

-16.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$601 MKD 31.7K

33.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$500 MKD 26.3K

3.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,287 MKD 67.8K

53.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,142 MKD 60.2K

29.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$912 MKD 48.1K

-32.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.75

33.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tetovo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $369 in Tetovo. 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 Tetovo, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Tetovo. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $170 in Tetovo – so Tetovo 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 Tetovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tetovo costs about 15% 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 $1,497 in Tetovo. 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 $222 in Tetovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 45% cheaper in Tetovo – 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 $998 in Tetovo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $998 in Tetovo. 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, Tetovo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.