Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and KicevoCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kicevo
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $895 in Kicevo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $1,315 in Kicevo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $1,735 in Kicevo.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 39% more expensive than Kicevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket7% lower, Kicevo34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59฿147
$4.11MKD 215
11.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83฿1,501
$18.61MKD 973
151.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70฿279
$4.62MKD 242
88.31%
Cappuccino
$2.92฿93.7
$1.15MKD 60.2
153.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿21.92
$1.34MKD 70.1
-49.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿12.70
$0.54MKD 28.24
-25.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51฿80.4
$1.83MKD 95.8
37.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿122
$2.75MKD 144
38.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16฿69.3
$1.29MKD 67.5
67.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88฿60.3
$0.83MKD 43.40
126.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16฿69.2
$1.70MKD 88.7
27.06%
Eggs
$2.22฿71.2
$2.24MKD 117
-0.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57฿627
$9.15MKD 478
113.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80฿122
$8.17MKD 427
-53.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41฿430
$13.82MKD 723
-2.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26฿104
$1.06MKD 55.7
207.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿51.7
$1.42MKD 74.5
13.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31฿74.0
$1.36MKD 71.1
69.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06฿66.0
$2.09MKD 109
-1.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61฿51.5
$0.81MKD 42.32
98.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44฿46.26
$0.94MKD 49.09
53.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.01
$0.69MKD 35.85
49.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.39
$0.56MKD 29.08
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50฿144
$3.23MKD 169
39.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18฿615
$5.55MKD 290
245.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿58.4
$1.10MKD 57.7
65.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69฿86.2
$1.51MKD 79.2
78.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38฿44.16
$0.64MKD 33.29
115.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76฿377
$20.07MKD 1,050
-41.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿99.6
$0.98MKD 51.2
217.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.18
$0.53MKD 27.49
88.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74฿441
$7.54MKD 395
82.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30฿41.61
$1.53MKD 79.9
-15.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿877.0K
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
-20.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K฿1.1M
$29.4KMKD 1.5M
12.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,004
$163MKD 8,502
-23.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74฿440
$18.17MKD 950
-24.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61฿597
$19.69MKD 1,030
-5.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6฿1,941
$26.69MKD 1,396
126.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15฿550
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.01฿289
$6.64MKD 347
35.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.4K
$320MKD 16.8K
117.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1K฿516.5K
$1,196MKD 62.6K
1246.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2฿1,898
$77.4MKD 4,045
-23.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86฿1,118
$40.42MKD 2,114
-13.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114฿3,662
$98.6MKD 5,154
15.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8฿2,751
$111MKD 5,792
-22.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿19.8K
$285MKD 14.9K
117.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.0K
$196MKD 10.3K
122.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075฿66.5K
$555MKD 29.0K
273.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿48.4K
$307MKD 16.0K
392.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764฿120.7K
$1,606MKD 84.0K
134.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694฿86.4K
$1,192MKD 62.3K
125.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528฿16.9K
$610MKD 31.9K
-13.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.54
17.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Kicevo: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $285 in Kicevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kicevo pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47 in Phuket vs $19 in Kicevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $210 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 Kicevo?
Phuket and Kicevo differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $895 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, Kicevo earns 15% less. 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 Kicevo?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $285 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 $1,247 per month in Phuket versus $895 in Kicevo – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Kicevo?
A monthly transit pass in Kicevo runs roughly 71% 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 $895 in Kicevo versus $1,247 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 39% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.