😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $826 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,210 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $1,594 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 53% more than Kumanovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Kumanovo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Kumanovo40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$6.60MKD 349
-29.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$28.34MKD 1,497
13.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$6.82MKD 360
27.27%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$1.53MKD 80.7
89.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$1.45MKD 76.5
-42.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$1.12MKD 59.1
-56.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$1.58MKD 83.6
56.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$1.79MKD 94.5
108.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$1.28MKD 67.5
47.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$0.71MKD 37.65
98.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$1.89MKD 99.7
-14.29%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$2.44MKD 129
-8.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$8.53MKD 450
132.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$7.64MKD 403
-54.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
$11.86MKD 627
-4.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$1.02MKD 53.9
184.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$1.43MKD 75.6
20.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$1.38MKD 73.1
64.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$1.86MKD 98.3
14.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$0.88MKD 46.48
67.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$0.89MKD 46.87
59.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$0.55MKD 28.88
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$0.62MKD 32.86
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$3.18MKD 168
35.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$7.57MKD 400
145.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$1.06MKD 55.8
69.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$1.09MKD 57.5
172.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$1.11MKD 58.5
179.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$0.69MKD 36.32
56.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$6.08MKD 321
-36.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.47MKD 77.5
-2.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$36.3KMKD 1.9M
-23.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$28.1KMKD 1.5M
-3.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$132MKD 6,963
-20.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$17.90MKD 946
-36.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$20.04MKD 1,059
-12.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$28.55MKD 1,508
90.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
$19.16MKD 1,012
-40.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$5.51MKD 291
41.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$380MKD 20.1K
51.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$5,636MKD 297.8K
105.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$44.23MKD 2,337
43.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$21.08MKD 1,114
38.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$85.9MKD 4,536
12.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$49.42MKD 2,611
82.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$247MKD 13.0K
197.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$200MKD 10.6K
150.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$443MKD 23.4K
380.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$251MKD 13.3K
398.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
$1,673MKD 88.4K
111.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
$1,474MKD 77.9K
77.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
$587MKD 31.0K
-13.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4
39.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Kumanovo: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $247 in Kumanovo. 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 16% higher in Kumanovo, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $28.00 in Kumanovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $202 – making Kumanovo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kumanovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Kumanovo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $826 in Kumanovo – roughly 53% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Kumanovo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,239 in Kumanovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Kumanovo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kumanovo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Kumanovo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $826 in Kumanovo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Kumanovo?
Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $380 in Kumanovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kumanovo, where all-in costs run around $826, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Kumanovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Kumanovo?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $826 in Kumanovo to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Kumanovo safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Kumanovo?
If budget matters most, go with Kumanovo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.