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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $822 per month in Gostivar vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,201 per month in Gostivar vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,580 per month in Gostivar vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gostivar is about 3% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gostivar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gostivar 39% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 MKD 279

$1.96 ฿63.6

170.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.13 MKD 1,215

$18.81 ฿611

22.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 MKD 270

$7.92 ฿258

-35.23%

Cappuccino

$1.44 MKD 75.6

$1.91 ฿62.2

-24.61%

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

$1.12 MKD 58.7

$0.84 ฿27.25

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MKD 60.8

$0.35 ฿11.44

231.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 MKD 72.9

$2.21 ฿71.7

-37.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 MKD 98.0

$3.80 ฿124

-50.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 MKD 70.1

$1.64 ฿53.2

-18.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 MKD 36.11

$1.62 ฿52.8

-57.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 MKD 77.3

$1.18 ฿38.40

24.58%

Eggs

$2.03 MKD 106

$2.01 ฿65.4

1.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.76 MKD 355

$15.89 ฿517

-57.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.73 MKD 301

$3.01 ฿98.0

90.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 MKD 716

$10.77 ฿350

26.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 MKD 54.6

$2.61 ฿85.0

-60.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 72.9

$1.22 ฿39.65

13.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 MKD 65.2

$1.70 ฿55.4

-27.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 MKD 83.5

$1.58 ฿51.2

0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 49.16

$1.32 ฿42.89

-28.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 MKD 38.45

$1.17 ฿38.01

-37.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 MKD 28.03

$0.67 ฿21.85

-20.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MKD 29.72

$0.56 ฿18.21

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 MKD 149

$4.53 ฿147

-37.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.81 MKD 253

$18.20 ฿592

-73.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MKD 50.8

$1.83 ฿59.6

-46.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MKD 80.3

$3.23 ฿105

-52.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MKD 35.76

$0.89 ฿28.83

-23.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.01 MKD 1,051

$19.38 ฿630

3.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 MKD 49.93

$1.35 ฿43.95

-29.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MKD 17.23

$1.35 ฿43.79

-75.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 MKD 347

$8.25 ฿268

-19.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MKD 78.7

$1.27 ฿41.40

18.11%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$21.2K ฿687.8K

50.95%

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

$47.5K MKD 2.5M

$22.5K ฿731.0K

111.29%

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

$134 MKD 7,013

$70.2 ฿2,281

90.33%

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

$11.12 MKD 584

$13.77 ฿448

-19.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.29 MKD 803

$17.60 ฿572

-13.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.10 MKD 1,371

$41.57 ฿1,352

-37.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MKD 253

$5.78 ฿188

-16.78%

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

$222 MKD 11.6K

$306 ฿9,953

-27.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,184 MKD 62.2K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

-92.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.77 MKD 1,984

$54.4 ฿1,768

-30.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.22 MKD 1,955

$26.14 ฿850

42.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 MKD 4,004

$84.5 ฿2,748

-9.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 5,925

$69.4 ฿2,257

62.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MKD 14.9K

$424 ฿13.8K

-33.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 MKD 10.4K

$238 ฿7,743

-17.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MKD 29.9K

$825 ฿26.8K

-30.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 MKD 16.4K

$515 ฿16.7K

-39.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,627 MKD 85.5K

$2,049 ฿66.6K

-20.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,207 MKD 63.4K

$1,523 ฿49.5K

-20.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$903 MKD 47.4K

$635 ฿20.6K

42.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

30.00%

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

Last update for Gostivar: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Gostivar versus $424 in Chiang Mai. 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 42% higher in Gostivar, 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 $23.00 in Gostivar versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $181 in Gostivar vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Gostivar 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

Gostivar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Gostivar, 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 $1,234 per month in Gostivar and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Gostivar and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $822 in Gostivar and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gostivar costs $822 versus $852 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 Gostivar. 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.