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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $765 in Veles, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,136 in Veles, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,507 in Veles, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Veles, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Veles are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Veles 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$5.77 MKD 310

-66.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$18.54 MKD 995

-1.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.05 MKD 271

48.12%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.53 MKD 82.2

32.03%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.33 MKD 71.2

-36.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.85 MKD 45.37

-57.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.52 MKD 81.4

40.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.77 MKD 149

29.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.09 MKD 58.5

51.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.55 MKD 29.50

185.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.54 MKD 82.8

-22.73%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.05 MKD 110

-5.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$3.04 MKD 163

432.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.07 MKD 218

-26.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.68 MKD 734

-20.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.04 MKD 55.8

160.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.37 MKD 73.6

-14.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.26 MKD 67.6

34.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.58 MKD 84.9

1.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.98 MKD 52.6

40.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.33 MKD 71.6

-9.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.58 MKD 31.01

15.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.54 MKD 28.96

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.94 MKD 158

57.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.17 MKD 331

185.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.00 MKD 53.7

86.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.83 MKD 98.1

80.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.68 MKD 36.68

29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$49.96 MKD 2,682

-61.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.16 MKD 62.4

17.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.49 MKD 26.42

173.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.43 MKD 345

27.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.45 MKD 77.7

-15.86%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$27.0K MKD 1.4M

-20.85%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$24.6K MKD 1.3M

-8.34%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$115 MKD 6,159

-38.41%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.17 MKD 922

-18.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$12.10 MKD 650

44.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$26.15 MKD 1,404

61.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$1.92 MKD 103

258.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.35 MKD 180

76.72%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$223 MKD 12.0K

38.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,210 MKD 64.9K

1129.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$22.39 MKD 1,202

149.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$19.06 MKD 1,023

36.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$75.1 MKD 4,033

10.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$113 MKD 6,052

-37.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$226 MKD 12.1K

91.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$174 MKD 9,326

37.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$291 MKD 15.6K

182.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$242 MKD 13.0K

111.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,201 MKD 64.5K

59.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$957 MKD 51.4K

53.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$603 MKD 32.4K

-3.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

-29.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Veles: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $226 in Veles. 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 4% higher in Veles, 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 $19.00 in Veles. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $163 in Veles – so Veles 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 Veles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Veles, 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 $1,147 in Veles. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Veles, 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 Veles. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 49% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $765 in Veles, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Veles costs $765 versus $861 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 Veles. 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.