😐A single person spends $954 per month in Ohrid vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Ohrid vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,135 per month in Ohrid vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Ohrid costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ohrid and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ohrid28% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.56MKD 406
$2.04฿68.4
270.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.52MKD 1,802
$18.71฿626
79.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.71MKD 361
$7.86฿263
-14.63%
Cappuccino
$2.28MKD 123
$2.03฿67.9
12.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02MKD 109
$0.80฿26.71
152.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24MKD 66.7
$0.35฿11.71
254.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.56MKD 138
$2.14฿71.7
19.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47MKD 186
$3.67฿123
-5.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23MKD 65.9
$1.73฿57.8
-28.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79MKD 42.42
$1.57฿52.5
-49.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MKD 92.7
$1.20฿40.10
43.33%
Eggs
$2.14MKD 115
$1.97฿66.0
8.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.68MKD 467
$16.23฿543
-46.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.76MKD 417
$3.06฿102
153.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.84MKD 744
$10.80฿361
28.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03MKD 55.3
$2.77฿92.6
-62.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40MKD 75.4
$1.17฿39.05
19.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MKD 70.2
$1.71฿57.1
-23.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MKD 112
$1.59฿53.3
31.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81MKD 43.53
$1.39฿46.63
-41.73%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97MKD 52.1
$1.16฿38.67
-16.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72MKD 38.73
$0.66฿22.11
9.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MKD 31.64
$0.52฿17.35
13.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17MKD 170
$4.65฿155
-31.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.43MKD 292
$17.78฿595
-69.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MKD 56.9
$1.79฿59.8
-40.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MKD 71.8
$3.34฿112
-59.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.16MKD 62.3
$0.91฿30.35
27.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.02MKD 1,184
$18.64฿624
18.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91MKD 48.77
$1.41฿47.17
-35.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 26.52
$1.34฿44.82
-63.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.49MKD 403
$8.11฿271
-7.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MKD 78.7
$1.23฿41.27
18.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
$21.4K฿717.0K
56.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KMKD 1.6M
$21.8K฿730.0K
37.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163MKD 8,778
$71.3฿2,386
128.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.77MKD 956
$14.01฿469
26.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.38MKD 1,042
$17.93฿600
8.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.72MKD 1,867
$40.82฿1,365
-14.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06MKD 1,025
$6.88฿230
177.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55MKD 352
$5.72฿191
14.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$284MKD 15.3K
$308฿10.3K
-7.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,449MKD 185.5K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-76.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.6MKD 4,118
$55.8฿1,865
37.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98MKD 2,096
$26.04฿871
49.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,403
$84.8฿2,837
18.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110MKD 5,931
$71.0฿2,375
55.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$233MKD 12.5K
$423฿14.2K
-44.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MKD 9,263
$242฿8,110
-28.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$573MKD 30.8K
$797฿26.7K
-28.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MKD 25.2K
$507฿17.0K
-7.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,122MKD 114.1K
$1,918฿64.2K
10.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,358MKD 73.0K
$1,464฿49.0K
-7.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$636MKD 34.2K
$595฿19.9K
6.90%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $233 in Ohrid versus $423 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 7% 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 – $204 in Ohrid vs $244 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 12% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,431 per month in Ohrid and $1,279 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $284 per month in Ohrid and $308 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 in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 20% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $954 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 $954 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 to 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.