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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,044 in Tetovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,546 in Tetovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,048 in Tetovo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Tetovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tetovo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tetovo 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$7.44 MKD 393

-71.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$28.55 MKD 1,508

-30.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.12 MKD 323

-5.39%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.62 MKD 85.6

12.96%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.60 MKD 84.7

-51.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.03 MKD 54.3

-69.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.25 MKD 119

4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.30 MKD 122

60.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.32 MKD 69.9

53.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.67 MKD 35.33

138.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.43 MKD 75.4

-0.70%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.11 MKD 112

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$7.35 MKD 388

116.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.55 MKD 293

-44.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.44 MKD 551

-5.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.43 MKD 75.6

83.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.42 MKD 75.2

-22.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.00 MKD 52.7

63.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.09 MKD 110

-26.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.86 MKD 45.30

44.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.73 MKD 38.78

54.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.66 MKD 34.68

12.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.57 MKD 29.88

-12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.14 MKD 166

36.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$4.80 MKD 254

274.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.10 MKD 58.0

54.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.48 MKD 78.4

95.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.40 MKD 20.87

135.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$11.47 MKD 606

382.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.10 MKD 58.1

11.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.60 MKD 31.45

-11.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$7.74 MKD 409

-68.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.52 MKD 80.2

-5.26%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$36.4K MKD 1.9M

-41.80%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$28.2K MKD 1.5M

-3.01%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$165 MKD 8,736

-60.73%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$19.08 MKD 1,008

-30.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$20.12 MKD 1,063

3.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$71.7 MKD 3,790

-43.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$18.56 MKD 980

-78.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$5.76 MKD 304

16.49%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$228 MKD 12.0K

245.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$2,292 MKD 121.1K

559.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$65.7 MKD 3,469

-14.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$40.10 MKD 2,119

-37.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$109 MKD 5,735

-14.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$117 MKD 6,162

-35.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$369 MKD 19.5K

31.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$282 MKD 14.9K

1.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$605 MKD 32.0K

50.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$504 MKD 26.6K

5.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,284 MKD 67.8K

54.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,115 MKD 58.9K

30.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$899 MKD 47.5K

-32.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.75

48.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tetovo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 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 49% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Tetovo. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $177 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 10% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,566 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $228 in Tetovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 37% cheaper in Tetovo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Tetovo at $1,044. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tetovo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,044 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.