Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kicevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kicevo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $925 in Kicevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,347 in Kicevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,770 in Kicevo.

Living in Phuket is roughly 33% more expensive than in Kicevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Kicevo 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$4.06 MKD 217
8.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,074
$18.46 MKD 988
74.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$4.63 MKD 248
92.87%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.4
$1.18 MKD 63.1
145.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.30
$1.37 MKD 73.2
-35.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.01
$0.73 MKD 39.10
-34.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.3
$2.40 MKD 128
-2.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$2.29 MKD 122
62.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.1
$1.27 MKD 68.1
47.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.81
$0.57 MKD 30.75
157.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.7
$1.90 MKD 102
-18.42%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.0
$2.43 MKD 130
-13.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿652
$7.29 MKD 390
168.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$7.56 MKD 404
-54.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿379
$15.22 MKD 815
-25.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.3
$1.44 MKD 77.1
106.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.45 MKD 77.6
15.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$1.40 MKD 74.9
57.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.0
$2.01 MKD 108
7.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.8
$0.89 MKD 47.66
70.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.55
$0.87 MKD 46.58
54.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.57
$0.64 MKD 34.49
76.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.19
$0.36 MKD 19.37
52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.96 MKD 159
43.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$5.72 MKD 306
233.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$1.09 MKD 58.2
63.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.6
$1.53 MKD 81.7
81.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.2
$0.73 MKD 38.82
205.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿757
$20.60 MKD 1,103
10.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$1.10 MKD 59.1
175.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.06
$0.58 MKD 31.23
75.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$7.87 MKD 421
-50.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.63
$1.43 MKD 76.7
4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿884.9K
$36.4K MKD 1.9M
-27.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿899.8K
$28.3K MKD 1.5M
-4.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,411
$165 MKD 8,805
-37.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$18.49 MKD 989
-38.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿579
$19.11 MKD 1,023
-8.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,734
$27.46 MKD 1,470
89.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿369
$19.21 MKD 1,028
-42.37%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$7.32 MKD 392
5.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$360 MKD 19.2K
55.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.0K
$5,727 MKD 306.5K
100.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,098
$85.3 MKD 4,565
-26.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿983
$38.53 MKD 2,062
-23.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,263
$104 MKD 5,548
-5.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,946
$116 MKD 6,206
-23.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$290 MKD 15.5K
154.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$189 MKD 10.1K
155.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.1K
$523 MKD 28.0K
302.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$289 MKD 15.4K
324.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.4K
$1,565 MKD 83.8K
131.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.7K
$1,168 MKD 62.5K
122.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$584 MKD 31.3K
-15.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.23
31.68%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kicevo: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $290 in Kicevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kicevo pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $18.00 in Kicevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $204 per month, with Kicevo cheaper across the board.

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
Phuket vs Kicevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Kicevo?
Phuket and Kicevo differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $925 including rent). Kicevo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Kicevo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Kicevo?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $290 in Kicevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Kicevo?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $925 in Kicevo – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Kicevo?
A monthly transit pass in Kicevo runs roughly 10% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $925 in Kicevo versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kicevo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kicevo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Kicevo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Kicevo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kicevo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Kicevo?
Expats usually find Kicevo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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