🙂A single person spends $765 per month in Veles vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Veles vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,507 per month in Veles vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Veles is about 11% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Veles and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Veles43% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.77MKD 309
$1.96฿65.9
194.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.54MKD 995
$18.35฿617
1.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.05MKD 271
$7.48฿252
-32.49%
Cappuccino
$1.53MKD 82.2
$2.02฿67.8
-24.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MKD 71.2
$0.85฿28.52
56.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85MKD 45.34
$0.36฿11.97
136.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52MKD 81.4
$2.14฿71.9
-28.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MKD 148
$3.59฿121
-22.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09MKD 58.5
$1.65฿55.5
-33.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55MKD 29.48
$1.57฿52.7
-64.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54MKD 82.7
$1.19฿40.05
29.41%
Eggs
$2.05MKD 110
$1.94฿65.1
5.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.04MKD 163
$16.19฿545
-81.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.07MKD 218
$2.99฿101
36.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.68MKD 734
$10.94฿368
25.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04MKD 55.7
$2.71฿91.2
-61.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MKD 73.5
$1.17฿39.27
17.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26MKD 67.5
$1.69฿56.8
-25.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MKD 84.8
$1.60฿54.0
-1.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98MKD 52.6
$1.38฿46.56
-28.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33MKD 71.6
$1.20฿40.47
10.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58MKD 30.99
$0.67฿22.51
-13.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MKD 28.94
$0.56฿18.74
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94MKD 158
$4.64฿156
-36.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.17MKD 331
$17.62฿593
-64.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00MKD 53.7
$1.86฿62.6
-46.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83MKD 98.0
$3.30฿111
-44.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MKD 36.66
$0.88฿29.70
-22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.96MKD 2,680
$19.34฿651
158.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16MKD 62.4
$1.36฿45.92
-14.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 26.40
$1.34฿45.00
-63.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.43MKD 345
$8.21฿276
-21.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MKD 77.7
$1.22฿41.20
18.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0KMKD 1.4M
$21.4K฿718.5K
26.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KMKD 1.3M
$22.5K฿758.1K
9.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115MKD 6,154
$70.7฿2,378
62.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.17MKD 921
$14.04฿472
22.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.10MKD 649
$17.49฿589
-30.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.15MKD 1,403
$42.15฿1,418
-37.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.92MKD 103
$6.88฿231
-72.09%
Cinema Ticket
$3.35MKD 180
$5.92฿199
-43.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$223MKD 12.0K
$309฿10.4K
-27.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,210MKD 64.9K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-91.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.39MKD 1,201
$55.8฿1,876
-59.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.06MKD 1,022
$26.11฿879
-27.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.1MKD 4,030
$83.0฿2,793
-9.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113MKD 6,048
$70.5฿2,371
60.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$226MKD 12.1K
$432฿14.5K
-47.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174MKD 9,319
$239฿8,040
-27.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$291MKD 15.6K
$822฿27.7K
-64.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242MKD 13.0K
$512฿17.2K
-52.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,201MKD 64.4K
$1,915฿64.4K
-37.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$957MKD 51.3K
$1,467฿49.4K
-34.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$603MKD 32.4K
$579฿19.5K
4.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
5
42.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Veles: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Veles versus $432 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 4% higher in Veles, 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 $19.00 in Veles versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $163 in Veles vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Veles 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
Veles vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Veles or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Veles, 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 Veles and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,147 per month in Veles and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Veles or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Veles, 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 Veles and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $223 per month in Veles and $309 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 Veles or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 49% 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 Veles or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $765 in Veles and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Veles or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Veles costs $765 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Veles 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 Veles or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Veles. 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.