Cost of Living Comparison Between Veles and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Veles and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Veles 43% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.77 MKD 309
$1.96 ฿65.9
194.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.54 MKD 995
$18.35 ฿617
1.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 MKD 271
$7.48 ฿252
-32.49%
Cappuccino
$1.53 MKD 82.2
$2.02 ฿67.8
-24.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MKD 71.2
$0.85 ฿28.52
56.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 MKD 45.34
$0.36 ฿11.97
136.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 MKD 81.4
$2.14 ฿71.9
-28.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MKD 148
$3.59 ฿121
-22.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 MKD 58.5
$1.65 ฿55.5
-33.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 MKD 29.48
$1.57 ฿52.7
-64.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 MKD 82.7
$1.19 ฿40.05
29.41%
Eggs
$2.05 MKD 110
$1.94 ฿65.1
5.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.04 MKD 163
$16.19 ฿545
-81.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.07 MKD 218
$2.99 ฿101
36.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.68 MKD 734
$10.94 ฿368
25.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 MKD 55.7
$2.71 ฿91.2
-61.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MKD 73.5
$1.17 ฿39.27
17.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 MKD 67.5
$1.69 ฿56.8
-25.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 MKD 84.8
$1.60 ฿54.0
-1.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 MKD 52.6
$1.38 ฿46.56
-28.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 MKD 71.6
$1.20 ฿40.47
10.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 MKD 30.99
$0.67 ฿22.51
-13.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MKD 28.94
$0.56 ฿18.74
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94 MKD 158
$4.64 ฿156
-36.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.17 MKD 331
$17.62 ฿593
-64.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 MKD 53.7
$1.86 ฿62.6
-46.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 MKD 98.0
$3.30 ฿111
-44.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MKD 36.66
$0.88 ฿29.70
-22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.96 MKD 2,680
$19.34 ฿651
158.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 MKD 62.4
$1.36 ฿45.92
-14.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 MKD 26.40
$1.34 ฿45.00
-63.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 MKD 345
$8.21 ฿276
-21.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MKD 77.7
$1.22 ฿41.20
18.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K MKD 1.4M
$21.4K ฿718.5K
26.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K MKD 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)
$115 MKD 6,154
$70.7 ฿2,378
62.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.17 MKD 921
$14.04 ฿472
22.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.10 MKD 649
$17.49 ฿589
-30.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.15 MKD 1,403
$42.15 ฿1,418
-37.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.92 MKD 103
$6.88 ฿231
-72.09%
Cinema Ticket
$3.35 MKD 180
$5.92 ฿199
-43.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$223 MKD 12.0K
$309 ฿10.4K
-27.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,210 MKD 64.9K
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-91.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.39 MKD 1,201
$55.8 ฿1,876
-59.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.06 MKD 1,022
$26.11 ฿879
-27.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 MKD 4,030
$83.0 ฿2,793
-9.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MKD 6,048
$70.5 ฿2,371
60.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$226 MKD 12.1K
$432 ฿14.5K
-47.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 MKD 9,319
$239 ฿8,040
-27.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 MKD 15.6K
$822 ฿27.7K
-64.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 MKD 13.0K
$512 ฿17.2K
-52.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,201 MKD 64.4K
$1,915 ฿64.4K
-37.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$957 MKD 51.3K
$1,467 ฿49.4K
-34.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Veles
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$603 MKD 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.

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