🙂A single person spends $759 per month in Prilep vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,145 per month in Prilep vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,531 per month in Prilep vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Prilep is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Prilep and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Prilep44% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.15MKD 220
$1.98฿64.3
109.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.80MKD 1,475
$18.80฿612
47.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79MKD 307
$7.75฿252
-25.29%
Cappuccino
$1.53MKD 81.4
$1.92฿62.5
-20.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MKD 88.1
$0.79฿25.79
110.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 65.1
$0.36฿11.62
241.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57MKD 83.2
$2.21฿72.1
-28.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04MKD 108
$3.66฿119
-44.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23MKD 65.3
$1.65฿53.8
-25.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.88
$1.63฿53.2
-56.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60MKD 84.7
$1.19฿38.86
34.45%
Eggs
$2.13MKD 113
$2.00฿65.1
6.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.96MKD 369
$15.98฿520
-56.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80MKD 308
$3.03฿98.5
91.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.91MKD 526
$10.86฿354
-8.75%
Apples(1kg)
$0.93MKD 49.26
$2.76฿90.0
-66.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MKD 75.8
$1.18฿38.42
21.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01MKD 53.4
$1.64฿53.5
-38.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54MKD 81.6
$1.52฿49.51
1.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81MKD 42.90
$1.38฿45.10
-41.30%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94MKD 49.68
$1.19฿38.84
-21.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62MKD 32.66
$0.70฿22.86
-11.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44MKD 23.44
$0.56฿18.13
-21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03MKD 161
$4.58฿149
-33.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.71MKD 250
$16.56฿539
-71.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96MKD 51.0
$1.83฿59.5
-47.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18MKD 62.8
$3.20฿104
-63.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40MKD 21.15
$0.88฿28.56
-54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.45MKD 979
$18.72฿610
-1.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96MKD 50.8
$1.36฿44.16
-29.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MKD 26.44
$1.34฿43.65
-62.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.50MKD 345
$7.84฿256
-17.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51MKD 80.2
$1.23฿39.92
22.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KMKD 1.8M
$21.6K฿704.3K
53.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KMKD 1.6M
$22.5K฿734.3K
33.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129MKD 6,823
$70.5฿2,298
82.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.62MKD 935
$13.68฿445
28.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.31MKD 760
$17.45฿568
-17.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.83MKD 893
$41.33฿1,346
-59.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.79MKD 307
$6.96฿227
-16.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30MKD 281
$5.77฿188
-8.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$284MKD 15.1K
$307฿10.0K
-7.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,179MKD 62.6K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-91.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.69MKD 2,212
$55.8฿1,817
-25.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38MKD 1,983
$26.21฿854
42.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4MKD 3,946
$85.8฿2,793
-13.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.8MKD 4,979
$72.2฿2,353
29.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$237MKD 12.6K
$430฿14.0K
-44.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174MKD 9,229
$239฿7,774
-27.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$511MKD 27.1K
$817฿26.6K
-37.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$285MKD 15.1K
$511฿16.6K
-44.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,059MKD 56.2K
$1,983฿64.6K
-46.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$833MKD 44.2K
$1,484฿48.3K
-43.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$607MKD 32.2K
$619฿20.2K
-1.83%
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 Prilep: June 9, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Prilep 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 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 Prilep versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Prilep vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Prilep 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
Prilep vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Prilep or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Prilep, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Prilep vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,138 per month in Prilep 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, Prilep or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Prilep, 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 Prilep and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $284 per month in Prilep 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 Prilep or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 44% 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 $800/month in Prilep or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $759 in Prilep and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Prilep or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Prilep costs $759 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Prilep 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 Prilep or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Prilep. 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.