Cost of Living Comparison Between Ohrid and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ohrid and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,012 per month in Ohrid vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,617 per month in Ohrid vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,221 per month in Ohrid vs $1,909 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 – Ohrid 27% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42 MKD 392
$2.10 ฿69.3
253.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.41 MKD 1,976
$19.84 ฿656
88.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.73 MKD 408
$5.79 ฿191
33.51%
Cappuccino
$2.75 MKD 145
$1.83 ฿60.4
50.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 MKD 163
$0.78 ฿25.61
296.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 MKD 102
$0.31 ฿10.37
525.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.69 MKD 195
$2.34 ฿77.2
57.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84 MKD 255
$3.70 ฿122
30.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 MKD 70.3
$2.03 ฿67.1
-34.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 MKD 40.96
$1.60 ฿52.7
-51.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 MKD 91.9
$1.42 ฿46.75
22.54%
Eggs
$2.27 MKD 120
$2.18 ฿71.9
4.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.36 MKD 442
$15.91 ฿526
-47.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.90 MKD 470
$3.07 ฿102
189.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.17 MKD 802
$9.87 ฿326
53.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 MKD 55.1
$2.63 ฿86.8
-60.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MKD 72.5
$1.10 ฿36.19
24.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 MKD 85.6
$1.63 ฿53.8
-0.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 MKD 109
$1.53 ฿50.6
35.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 MKD 58.6
$1.24 ฿41.13
-10.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 MKD 78.2
$1.13 ฿37.37
30.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MKD 57.0
$0.74 ฿24.38
45.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 MKD 39.94
$0.50 ฿16.48
52.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 MKD 182
$4.28 ฿141
-19.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.59 MKD 295
$17.97 ฿594
-68.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 MKD 60.1
$1.70 ฿56.1
-32.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 MKD 81.4
$2.90 ฿95.7
-46.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 MKD 61.3
$0.94 ฿31.13
23.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.91 MKD 1,316
$55.3 ฿1,827
-54.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 MKD 58.0
$1.23 ฿40.76
-10.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 MKD 49.65
$0.53 ฿17.66
77.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.22 MKD 487
$2.40 ฿79.3
284.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MKD 81.0
$1.44 ฿47.55
6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K MKD 1.7M
$21.2K ฿700.2K
47.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K MKD 1.7M
$27.3K ฿902.1K
16.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 MKD 7,046
$64.9 ฿2,145
105.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.96 MKD 1,002
$13.35 ฿441
42.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.38 MKD 1,500
$20.83 ฿688
36.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.42 MKD 1,818
$40.42 ฿1,336
-14.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 MKD 1,011
$3.95 ฿131
384.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 MKD 339
$6.71 ฿222
-4.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 MKD 15.0K
$787 ฿26.0K
-63.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,466 MKD 183.1K
$15.1K ฿499.6K
-77.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 MKD 5,321
$56.2 ฿1,858
79.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.7 MKD 2,941
$24.95 ฿824
123.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MKD 5,452
$92.7 ฿3,063
11.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 MKD 7,287
$75.1 ฿2,482
83.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 MKD 15.4K
$484 ฿16.0K
-39.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 MKD 9,230
$287 ฿9,491
-39.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$563 MKD 29.7K
$910 ฿30.1K
-38.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MKD 19.7K
$531 ฿17.5K
-29.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,186 MKD 115.5K
$1,980 ฿65.4K
10.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,351 MKD 71.4K
$1,451 ฿47.9K
-6.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ohrid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$650 MKD 34.4K
$605 ฿20.0K
7.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.3
5.57
31.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ohrid: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $291 in Ohrid 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 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 $37.00 in Ohrid versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Ohrid vs $242 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,518 per month in Ohrid 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, 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 $283 per month in Ohrid and $787 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 9% 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 $1,000/month in Ohrid or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Ohrid at $1,012. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ohrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ohrid or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,012 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.

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