😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $789 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,166 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,543 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 56% more than Kumanovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Kumanovo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Kumanovo41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$5.73MKD 302
-19.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$28.55MKD 1,505
64.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$4.97MKD 262
77.87%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$1.59MKD 84.0
88.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$1.59MKD 84.0
-53.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$1.16MKD 61.0
-68.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$1.55MKD 82.0
57.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$1.74MKD 91.6
107.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.32MKD 69.4
71.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.62MKD 32.61
196.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.78MKD 93.9
25.84%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$2.09MKD 110
11.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$6.93MKD 365
183.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$7.28MKD 384
-49.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$11.40MKD 601
14.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$0.63MKD 33.12
438.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.38MKD 72.8
18.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.30MKD 68.4
85.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$1.06MKD 55.7
91.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$0.98MKD 51.5
59.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$0.78MKD 41.31
92.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.55MKD 28.75
85.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.52MKD 27.68
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$3.05MKD 161
45.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$7.48MKD 394
152.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.01MKD 53.4
76.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$1.04MKD 55.1
164.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.67MKD 35.44
108.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$19.99MKD 1,054
-42.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$1.15MKD 60.8
171.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.49MKD 25.98
104.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$6.61MKD 349
113.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.45MKD 76.2
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$32.3KMKD 1.7M
-15.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
-4.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$122MKD 6,414
2.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$16.71MKD 881
-18.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$15.80MKD 833
17.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$19.13MKD 1,009
221.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$4.77MKD 252
92.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$217MKD 11.4K
222.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$1,184MKD 62.4K
1217.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$38.07MKD 2,008
51.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$47.60MKD 2,510
-25.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$73.5MKD 3,876
53.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$47.89MKD 2,525
80.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$258MKD 13.6K
138.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$213MKD 11.2K
109.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$557MKD 29.4K
267.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$311MKD 16.4K
379.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$1,676MKD 88.4K
125.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$1,502MKD 79.2K
76.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$585MKD 30.8K
-10.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4
33.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kumanovo: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $258 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 12% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $29.00 in Kumanovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $183 – 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 Kumanovo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $789 in Kumanovo – roughly 56% 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,183 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $789 in Kumanovo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Kumanovo?
Public transport costs about 74% less in Kumanovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
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 $789, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $789 in Kumanovo to $1,232 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.