🙂A single person spends $857 per month in Kocani vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,277 per month in Kocani vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,697 per month in Kocani vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kocani is about 1% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kocani and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kocani36% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kocani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.68MKD 302
$1.98฿64.3
186.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.13MKD 1,492
$18.80฿612
49.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.11MKD 271
$7.75฿252
-34.06%
Cappuccino
$1.15MKD 61.3
$1.92฿62.5
-40.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48MKD 78.7
$0.79฿25.79
87.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MKD 60.9
$0.36฿11.62
219.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27MKD 121
$2.21฿72.1
2.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73MKD 145
$3.66฿119
-25.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kocani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29MKD 68.3
$1.65฿53.8
-21.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54MKD 28.91
$1.63฿53.2
-66.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54MKD 81.6
$1.19฿38.86
29.41%
Eggs
$1.92MKD 102
$2.00฿65.1
-4.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MKD 535
$15.98฿520
-36.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.74MKD 304
$3.03฿98.5
89.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.64MKD 724
$10.86฿354
25.60%
Apples(1kg)
$0.71MKD 37.93
$2.76฿90.0
-74.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MKD 72.8
$1.18฿38.42
16.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MKD 69.7
$1.64฿53.5
-20.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54MKD 81.9
$1.52฿49.51
1.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97MKD 51.6
$1.38฿45.10
-29.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34MKD 71.0
$1.19฿38.84
12.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54MKD 28.68
$0.70฿22.86
-22.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MKD 27.76
$0.56฿18.13
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96MKD 157
$4.58฿149
-35.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.78MKD 200
$16.56฿539
-77.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99MKD 52.6
$1.83฿59.5
-45.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81MKD 96.2
$3.20฿104
-43.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Kocani
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69MKD 36.50
$0.88฿28.56
-21.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.43MKD 1,084
$18.72฿610
9.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MKD 61.0
$1.36฿44.16
-15.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.79
$1.34฿43.65
-63.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.77MKD 200
$7.84฿256
-51.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MKD 76.6
$1.23฿39.92
17.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KMKD 1.7M
$21.6K฿704.3K
49.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
$22.5K฿734.3K
49.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kocani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143MKD 7,565
$70.5฿2,298
102.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50MKD 928
$13.68฿445
27.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.76MKD 836
$17.45฿568
-9.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kocani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.37MKD 1,081
$41.33฿1,346
-50.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.81MKD 255
$5.77฿188
-16.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kocani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216MKD 11.5K
$307฿10.0K
-29.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,201MKD 63.7K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-91.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kocani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2MKD 4,097
$55.8฿1,817
38.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.07MKD 2,497
$26.21฿854
79.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5MKD 4,004
$85.8฿2,793
-11.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111MKD 5,911
$72.2฿2,353
54.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kocani
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282MKD 14.9K
$430฿14.0K
-34.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195MKD 10.3K
$239฿7,774
-18.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$563MKD 29.9K
$817฿26.6K
-31.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$315MKD 16.7K
$511฿16.6K
-38.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,512MKD 80.2K
$1,983฿64.6K
-23.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,239MKD 65.7K
$1,484฿48.3K
-16.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kocani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$461MKD 24.5K
$619฿20.2K
-25.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
5
42.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kocani: June 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Kocani versus $430 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 34% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $28.00 in Kocani versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $187 in Kocani vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Kocani 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
Kocani vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kocani or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Kocani, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kocani vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,285 per month in Kocani and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kocani or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kocani, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Kocani and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $216 per month in Kocani and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kocani or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 29% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Kocani or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $857 in Kocani and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kocani or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kocani costs $857 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kocani compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Kocani or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kocani. 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.