😐A single person spends $924 per month in Ohrid vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Ohrid vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,088 per month in Ohrid vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Ohrid costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ohrid and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ohrid31% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29MKD 383
$1.96฿63.6
271.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.29MKD 1,748
$18.81฿611
76.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.58MKD 346
$7.92฿258
-16.92%
Cappuccino
$2.22MKD 117
$1.91฿62.2
16.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97MKD 103
$0.84฿27.25
134.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28MKD 67.1
$0.35฿11.44
265.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57MKD 135
$2.21฿71.7
16.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40MKD 178
$3.80฿124
-10.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29MKD 67.6
$1.64฿53.2
-21.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83MKD 43.42
$1.62฿52.8
-48.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74MKD 91.4
$1.18฿38.40
47.46%
Eggs
$2.25MKD 118
$2.01฿65.4
11.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.52MKD 448
$15.89฿517
-46.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.08MKD 424
$3.01฿98.0
168.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53MKD 710
$10.77฿350
25.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02MKD 53.7
$2.61฿85.0
-60.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41MKD 74.0
$1.22฿39.65
15.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37MKD 72.1
$1.70฿55.4
-19.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MKD 108
$1.58฿51.2
30.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82MKD 42.83
$1.32฿42.89
-37.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98MKD 51.3
$1.17฿38.01
-16.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71MKD 37.36
$0.67฿21.85
5.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MKD 30.78
$0.56฿18.21
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.11MKD 163
$4.53฿147
-31.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.62MKD 295
$18.20฿592
-69.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MKD 58.2
$1.83฿59.6
-39.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36MKD 71.6
$3.23฿105
-57.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10MKD 57.7
$0.89฿28.83
23.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.21MKD 1,114
$19.38฿630
9.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95MKD 50.1
$1.35฿43.95
-29.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52MKD 27.53
$1.35฿43.79
-61.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.53MKD 395
$8.25฿268
-8.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MKD 76.8
$1.27฿41.40
14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4KMKD 1.8M
$21.2K฿687.8K
57.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KMKD 1.5M
$22.5K฿731.0K
29.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160MKD 8,391
$70.2฿2,281
127.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.18MKD 955
$13.77฿448
32.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68MKD 1,034
$17.60฿572
11.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.03MKD 1,840
$41.57฿1,352
-15.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.91MKD 993
$6.60฿215
186.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71MKD 352
$5.78฿188
16.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285MKD 15.0K
$306฿9,953
-6.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,514MKD 184.6K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-76.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1MKD 4,050
$54.4฿1,768
41.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.09MKD 2,053
$26.14฿850
49.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2MKD 5,212
$84.5฿2,748
17.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111MKD 5,831
$69.4฿2,257
59.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$228MKD 12.0K
$424฿13.8K
-46.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$170MKD 8,926
$238฿7,743
-28.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$570MKD 29.9K
$825฿26.8K
-30.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$463MKD 24.3K
$515฿16.7K
-10.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,168MKD 113.9K
$2,049฿66.6K
5.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,369MKD 71.9K
$1,523฿49.5K
-10.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$642MKD 33.7K
$635฿20.6K
1.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.54
5
-9.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ohrid: April 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $228 in Ohrid 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 1% higher in Ohrid, 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 $33.00 in Ohrid versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Ohrid vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Ohrid 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
Ohrid vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ohrid or Chiang Mai?
Ohrid costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Ohrid vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,387 per month in Ohrid and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ohrid or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Ohrid and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $285 per month in Ohrid and $306 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 Ohrid or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Ohrid – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Ohrid or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $924 in Ohrid and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ohrid or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $924 in Ohrid. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ohrid 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 Ohrid or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ohrid makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.