🙂A single person spends $765 per month in Prilep vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,157 per month in Prilep vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,548 per month in Prilep vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Prilep is about 18% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Prilep and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Prilep44% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.16MKD 221
$2.08฿69.5
100.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.35MKD 1,508
$19.61฿655
44.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.78MKD 307
$5.67฿189
1.94%
Cappuccino
$1.53MKD 81.4
$1.81฿60.3
-15.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MKD 86.1
$0.77฿25.65
110.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22MKD 64.8
$0.35฿11.53
248.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.62MKD 85.9
$2.21฿73.9
-26.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11MKD 112
$3.79฿127
-44.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23MKD 65.3
$2.05฿68.4
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.79
$1.51฿50.6
-52.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MKD 83.6
$1.40฿46.69
12.14%
Eggs
$2.04MKD 108
$2.26฿75.4
-9.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.21MKD 384
$16.19฿540
-55.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.10MKD 324
$2.90฿96.7
110.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.53MKD 613
$9.42฿314
22.40%
Apples(1kg)
$0.92MKD 48.80
$2.68฿89.4
-65.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MKD 76.8
$1.09฿36.37
32.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97MKD 51.5
$1.62฿54.0
-40.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34MKD 71.3
$1.46฿48.74
-8.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84MKD 44.82
$1.28฿42.65
-34.38%
Onion(1kg)
$0.87MKD 46.48
$1.06฿35.31
-17.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60MKD 32.08
$0.72฿23.94
-16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46MKD 24.46
$0.53฿17.56
-13.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94MKD 156
$4.23฿141
-30.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.05MKD 269
$18.29฿611
-72.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97MKD 51.6
$1.63฿54.4
-40.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18MKD 62.9
$2.90฿96.8
-59.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MKD 19.34
$0.88฿29.32
-59.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.51MKD 984
$53.8฿1,795
-65.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11MKD 59.1
$1.17฿39.14
-5.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MKD 30.96
$0.58฿19.30
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.68MKD 355
$2.39฿79.6
179.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48MKD 78.9
$1.45฿48.41
2.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
$21.0K฿701.4K
63.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KMKD 1.5M
$26.4K฿882.0K
5.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128MKD 6,815
$63.7฿2,125
101.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.46MKD 929
$12.89฿430
35.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.54MKD 773
$20.52฿685
-29.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.70MKD 1,101
$39.02฿1,302
-46.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.28MKD 441
$3.92฿131
111.22%
Cinema Ticket
$5.28MKD 281
$6.58฿220
-19.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$281MKD 14.9K
$784฿26.2K
-64.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,195MKD 63.6K
$14.7K฿489.8K
-91.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.42MKD 2,043
$55.1฿1,840
-30.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.97MKD 1,966
$24.74฿826
49.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.3MKD 3,630
$94.1฿3,142
-27.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5MKD 4,388
$74.0฿2,469
11.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242MKD 12.9K
$490฿16.4K
-50.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176MKD 9,365
$288฿9,620
-38.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506MKD 26.9K
$891฿29.8K
-43.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288MKD 15.3K
$521฿17.4K
-44.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,028MKD 54.7K
$1,974฿65.9K
-47.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$847MKD 45.0K
$1,444฿48.2K
-41.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622MKD 33.1K
$602฿20.1K
3.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.23
5.57
-24.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Prilep: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Prilep versus $490 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 3% higher in Prilep, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Prilep versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $174 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 22% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,148 per month in Prilep and $1,398 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $281 per month in Prilep and $784 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 39% 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 $1,000/month in Prilep or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Prilep, where all-in costs run around $765, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Prilep it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Prilep or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Prilep costs $765 versus $932 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 to 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.