😐A single person spends $921 per month in Ohrid vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,517 per month in Ohrid vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,113 per month in Ohrid vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Ohrid costs about 6% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ohrid and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ohrid31% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29MKD 387
$1.98฿64.3
268.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.87MKD 1,797
$18.80฿612
80.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.62MKD 351
$7.75฿252
-14.58%
Cappuccino
$2.30MKD 122
$1.92฿62.5
19.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02MKD 107
$0.79฿25.79
155.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 65.2
$0.36฿11.62
241.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66MKD 141
$2.21฿72.1
20.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30MKD 175
$3.66฿119
-9.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23MKD 65.3
$1.65฿53.8
-25.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76MKD 40.54
$1.63฿53.2
-53.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MKD 92.0
$1.19฿38.86
45.38%
Eggs
$2.22MKD 118
$2.00฿65.1
11.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.69MKD 461
$15.98฿520
-45.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99MKD 424
$3.03฿98.5
163.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.86MKD 735
$10.86฿354
27.62%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98MKD 51.9
$2.76฿90.0
-64.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41MKD 75.1
$1.18฿38.42
19.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32MKD 69.8
$1.64฿53.5
-19.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MKD 115
$1.52฿49.51
42.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81MKD 43.04
$1.38฿45.10
-41.30%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93MKD 49.22
$1.19฿38.84
-21.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72MKD 37.99
$0.70฿22.86
2.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MKD 29.13
$0.56฿18.13
-1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15MKD 167
$4.58฿149
-31.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.46MKD 290
$16.56฿539
-67.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MKD 58.0
$1.83฿59.5
-40.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32MKD 70.0
$3.20฿104
-58.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14MKD 60.7
$0.88฿28.56
29.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.31MKD 1,131
$18.72฿610
13.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91MKD 48.10
$1.36฿44.16
-33.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 26.19
$1.34฿43.65
-63.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.72MKD 410
$7.84฿256
-1.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52MKD 80.7
$1.23฿39.92
23.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KMKD 1.8M
$21.6K฿704.3K
57.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KMKD 1.5M
$22.5K฿734.3K
29.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160MKD 8,490
$70.5฿2,298
126.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.83MKD 946
$13.68฿445
30.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.18MKD 1,018
$17.45฿568
9.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.96MKD 1,855
$41.33฿1,346
-15.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MKD 991
$6.96฿227
168.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41MKD 340
$5.77฿188
11.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$277MKD 14.7K
$307฿10.0K
-9.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,504MKD 185.9K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-76.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.4MKD 4,053
$55.8฿1,817
36.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.30MKD 2,139
$26.21฿854
53.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.4MKD 5,220
$85.8฿2,793
14.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110MKD 5,853
$72.2฿2,353
52.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235MKD 12.5K
$430฿14.0K
-45.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$170MKD 9,016
$239฿7,774
-28.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557MKD 29.6K
$817฿26.6K
-31.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MKD 24.7K
$511฿16.6K
-8.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,098MKD 111.3K
$1,983฿64.6K
5.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,368MKD 72.6K
$1,484฿48.3K
-7.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$629MKD 33.4K
$619฿20.2K
1.68%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Ohrid 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 2% 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 $34.00 in Ohrid versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Ohrid vs $241 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 6% 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 $1,381 per month in Ohrid 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, 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 $277 per month in Ohrid 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 Ohrid or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% 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 $921 in Ohrid and $869 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 $869 versus $921 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.