🙂A single person spends $759 per month in Prilep vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,138 per month in Prilep vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,518 per month in Prilep vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Prilep is about 11% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Prilep and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Prilep43% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.03MKD 213
$1.96฿64.0
105.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.62MKD 1,456
$18.81฿615
46.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.72MKD 302
$7.92฿259
-27.78%
Cappuccino
$1.53MKD 80.7
$1.91฿62.6
-19.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MKD 84.2
$0.84฿27.41
90.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22MKD 64.2
$0.35฿11.51
248.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.63MKD 85.9
$2.21฿72.1
-26.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03MKD 107
$3.80฿124
-46.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21MKD 63.8
$1.64฿53.5
-26.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74MKD 39.13
$1.62฿53.1
-54.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MKD 86.6
$1.18฿38.62
38.98%
Eggs
$2.10MKD 111
$2.01฿65.8
4.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.21MKD 380
$15.89฿520
-54.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.87MKD 310
$3.01฿98.5
95.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.13MKD 534
$10.77฿352
-5.94%
Apples(1kg)
$0.85MKD 44.99
$2.61฿85.5
-67.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MKD 72.1
$1.22฿39.88
12.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94MKD 49.71
$1.70฿55.7
-44.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.48MKD 77.8
$1.58฿51.5
-6.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88MKD 46.14
$1.32฿43.14
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MKD 52.6
$1.17฿38.23
-14.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65MKD 34.40
$0.67฿21.98
-2.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41MKD 21.88
$0.56฿18.32
-26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97MKD 157
$4.53฿148
-34.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.66MKD 246
$18.20฿595
-74.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91MKD 48.06
$1.83฿60.0
-50.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18MKD 62.5
$3.23฿106
-63.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40MKD 20.97
$0.89฿29.00
-55.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.92MKD 998
$19.38฿634
-2.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97MKD 51.0
$1.35฿44.20
-28.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.95
$1.35฿44.05
-63.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.52MKD 344
$8.25฿270
-20.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MKD 76.7
$1.27฿41.64
14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3KMKD 1.8M
$21.2K฿691.8K
57.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7KMKD 1.6M
$22.5K฿735.3K
31.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129MKD 6,801
$70.2฿2,294
83.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.73MKD 935
$13.77฿450
28.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.15MKD 746
$17.60฿575
-19.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.98MKD 896
$41.57฿1,360
-59.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.61MKD 296
$6.60฿216
-15.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.32MKD 281
$5.78฿189
-7.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$281MKD 14.8K
$306฿10.0K
-8.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,202MKD 63.4K
$14.8K฿484.8K
-91.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.03MKD 2,216
$54.4฿1,778
-22.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.95MKD 1,949
$26.14฿855
41.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6MKD 3,986
$84.5฿2,764
-10.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.4MKD 5,031
$69.4฿2,270
37.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234MKD 12.3K
$424฿13.9K
-44.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171MKD 9,020
$238฿7,788
-28.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$522MKD 27.5K
$825฿27.0K
-36.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289MKD 15.2K
$515฿16.8K
-43.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,041MKD 54.9K
$2,049฿67.0K
-49.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$865MKD 45.6K
$1,523฿49.8K
-43.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prilep
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$620MKD 32.7K
$635฿20.8K
-2.43%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $234 in Prilep versus $424 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 $243 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 12% 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 $1,139 per month in Prilep and $1,278 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 $281 per month in Prilep and $306 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 45% 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 $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 $759 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 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.