🙂A single person spends $826 per month in Kumanovo vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,210 per month in Kumanovo vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,594 per month in Kumanovo vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kumanovo is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Kumanovo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kumanovo40% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumanovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.60MKD 349
$2.10฿69.3
214.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.34MKD 1,497
$19.84฿656
42.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.82MKD 360
$5.79฿191
17.79%
Cappuccino
$1.53MKD 80.7
$1.83฿60.4
-16.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MKD 76.5
$0.78฿25.61
85.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MKD 59.1
$0.31฿10.37
261.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58MKD 83.6
$2.34฿77.2
-32.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79MKD 94.5
$3.70฿122
-51.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumanovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MKD 67.5
$2.03฿67.1
-36.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.65
$1.60฿52.7
-55.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MKD 99.7
$1.42฿46.75
33.10%
Eggs
$2.44MKD 129
$2.18฿71.9
11.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.53MKD 450
$15.91฿526
-46.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.64MKD 403
$3.07฿102
148.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.86MKD 627
$9.87฿326
20.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02MKD 53.9
$2.63฿86.8
-61.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MKD 75.6
$1.10฿36.19
30.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38MKD 73.1
$1.63฿53.8
-15.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.86MKD 98.3
$1.53฿50.6
21.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88MKD 46.48
$1.24฿41.13
-29.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89MKD 46.87
$1.13฿37.37
-21.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55MKD 28.88
$0.74฿24.38
-25.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MKD 32.86
$0.50฿16.48
24.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18MKD 168
$4.28฿141
-25.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.57MKD 400
$17.97฿594
-57.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MKD 55.8
$1.70฿56.1
-37.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09MKD 57.5
$2.90฿95.7
-62.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumanovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.94฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11MKD 58.5
$1.23฿40.76
-9.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69MKD 36.32
$0.53฿17.66
30.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.08MKD 321
$2.40฿79.3
153.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 77.5
$1.44฿47.55
2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3KMKD 1.9M
$21.2K฿700.2K
71.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KMKD 1.5M
$27.3K฿902.1K
2.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumanovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132MKD 6,963
$64.9฿2,145
103.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.90MKD 946
$13.35฿441
34.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.04MKD 1,059
$20.83฿688
-3.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumanovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.55MKD 1,508
$40.42฿1,336
-29.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.16MKD 1,012
$3.95฿131
385.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.51MKD 291
$6.71฿222
-17.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumanovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$380MKD 20.1K
$787฿26.0K
-51.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,636MKD 297.8K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-62.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumanovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.23MKD 2,337
$56.2฿1,858
-21.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.08MKD 1,114
$24.95฿824
-15.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.9MKD 4,536
$92.7฿3,063
-7.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.42MKD 2,611
$75.1฿2,482
-34.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumanovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$247MKD 13.0K
$484฿16.0K
-49.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200MKD 10.6K
$287฿9,491
-30.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$443MKD 23.4K
$910฿30.1K
-51.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$251MKD 13.3K
$531฿17.5K
-52.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,673MKD 88.4K
$1,980฿65.4K
-15.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,474MKD 77.9K
$1,451฿47.9K
1.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumanovo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$587MKD 31.0K
$605฿20.0K
-3.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
5.57
-28.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kumanovo: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Kumanovo versus $484 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 3% 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 Kumanovo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Kumanovo vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Kumanovo 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
Kumanovo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kumanovo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Kumanovo, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Kumanovo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,239 per month in Kumanovo and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kumanovo or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kumanovo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Kumanovo and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kumanovo and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kumanovo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% 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 $2,000/month in Kumanovo or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kumanovo, where all-in costs run around $826, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kumanovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kumanovo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kumanovo costs $826 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kumanovo 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 Kumanovo or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kumanovo. 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.