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: $1,232 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: Phuket10% lower, Kicevo32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$4.06MKD 217
8.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$18.46MKD 988
74.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$4.63MKD 248
92.87%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$1.18MKD 63.1
145.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$1.37MKD 73.2
-35.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$0.73MKD 39.10
-34.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$2.40MKD 128
-2.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.29MKD 122
62.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.27MKD 68.1
47.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$0.57MKD 30.75
157.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$1.90MKD 102
-18.42%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$2.43MKD 130
-13.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$7.29MKD 390
168.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$7.56MKD 404
-54.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$15.22MKD 815
-25.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$1.44MKD 77.1
106.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$1.45MKD 77.6
15.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.40MKD 74.9
57.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$2.01MKD 108
7.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$0.89MKD 47.66
70.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
$0.87MKD 46.58
54.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$0.64MKD 34.49
76.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$0.36MKD 19.37
52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$2.96MKD 159
43.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$5.72MKD 306
233.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.09MKD 58.2
63.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$1.53MKD 81.7
81.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
$0.73MKD 38.82
205.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿757
$20.60MKD 1,103
10.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.10MKD 59.1
175.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
$0.58MKD 31.23
75.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$7.87MKD 421
-50.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
$1.43MKD 76.7
4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
$36.4KMKD 1.9M
-27.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
$28.3KMKD 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
$165MKD 8,805
-37.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$18.49MKD 989
-38.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$19.11MKD 1,023
-8.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
$27.46MKD 1,470
89.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
$19.21MKD 1,028
-42.37%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$7.32MKD 392
5.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$360MKD 19.2K
55.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
$5,727MKD 306.5K
100.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$85.3MKD 4,565
-26.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$38.53MKD 2,062
-23.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$104MKD 5,548
-5.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$116MKD 6,206
-23.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$290MKD 15.5K
154.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$189MKD 10.1K
155.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
$523MKD 28.0K
302.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$289MKD 15.4K
324.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
$1,565MKD 83.8K
131.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
$1,168MKD 62.5K
122.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$584MKD 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.