🙂A single person spends $745 per month in Prilep vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,134 per month in Prilep vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,523 per month in Prilep vs $1,867 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 Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.03MKD 215
$2.04฿68.2
97.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.76MKD 1,483
$18.71฿624
48.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.74MKD 307
$7.86฿262
-26.97%
Cappuccino
$1.46MKD 78.1
$2.03฿67.7
-28.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MKD 89.7
$0.80฿26.64
110.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29MKD 68.7
$0.35฿11.68
268.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56MKD 83.6
$2.14฿71.5
-27.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06MKD 110
$3.67฿122
-43.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23MKD 65.5
$1.73฿57.6
-28.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74MKD 39.68
$1.57฿52.4
-52.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59MKD 85.1
$1.20฿39.99
32.50%
Eggs
$2.11MKD 113
$1.97฿65.8
7.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.18MKD 384
$16.23฿541
-55.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78MKD 309
$3.06฿102
88.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.90MKD 529
$10.80฿360
-8.33%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86MKD 45.89
$2.77฿92.3
-68.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36MKD 72.5
$1.17฿38.94
16.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97MKD 52.0
$1.71฿57.0
-43.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46MKD 78.3
$1.59฿53.2
-8.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89MKD 47.47
$1.39฿46.51
-35.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96MKD 51.5
$1.16฿38.56
-17.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61MKD 32.34
$0.66฿22.05
-7.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44MKD 23.51
$0.52฿17.31
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07MKD 164
$4.65฿155
-33.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.75MKD 254
$17.78฿593
-73.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91MKD 48.59
$1.79฿59.6
-49.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22MKD 65.5
$3.34฿111
-63.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MKD 19.65
$0.91฿30.27
-59.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.81MKD 1,005
$18.64฿622
0.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96MKD 51.2
$1.41฿47.04
-31.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 26.45
$1.34฿44.70
-63.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.43MKD 344
$8.11฿270
-20.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MKD 77.2
$1.23฿41.16
17.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
$21.4K฿715.1K
60.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KMKD 1.6M
$21.8K฿728.0K
35.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128MKD 6,845
$71.3฿2,379
79.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.38MKD 929
$14.01฿467
24.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.24MKD 761
$17.93฿598
-20.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.21MKD 919
$40.82฿1,362
-57.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.53MKD 296
$6.88฿230
-19.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.28MKD 282
$5.72฿191
-7.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$281MKD 15.0K
$308฿10.3K
-8.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,212MKD 64.8K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-91.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.44MKD 2,268
$55.8฿1,860
-23.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.97MKD 2,029
$26.04฿869
45.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.7MKD 3,994
$84.8฿2,829
-11.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.1MKD 5,081
$71.0฿2,368
33.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$237MKD 12.7K
$423฿14.1K
-43.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MKD 9,244
$242฿8,088
-28.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512MKD 27.3K
$797฿26.6K
-35.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281MKD 15.0K
$507฿16.9K
-44.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,044MKD 55.8K
$1,918฿64.0K
-45.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$827MKD 44.2K
$1,464฿48.8K
-43.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$609MKD 32.5K
$595฿19.9K
2.33%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Prilep 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 2% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Prilep vs $244 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 14% 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 $1,118 per month in Prilep 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, 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 $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 Prilep or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 46% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $745 in Prilep and $852 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 $745 versus $852 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.