😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $811 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,176 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,540 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 55% more than Kumanovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Kumanovo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Kumanovo40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$5.62MKD 298
-18.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$28.54MKD 1,514
63.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$5.01MKD 266
69.06%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$1.58MKD 84.0
91.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$1.66MKD 87.9
-58.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$1.15MKD 60.8
-67.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$1.56MKD 82.7
59.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$1.76MKD 93.6
107.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.25MKD 66.1
74.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.67MKD 35.35
183.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.76MKD 93.4
25.00%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$2.11MKD 112
5.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$7.18MKD 381
178.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$7.28MKD 386
-49.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$11.43MKD 607
15.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$0.64MKD 33.76
404.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$1.37MKD 72.7
24.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$1.27MKD 67.1
88.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$1.06MKD 56.3
96.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.94MKD 49.81
69.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.77MKD 40.97
92.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.54MKD 28.76
90.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.52MKD 27.36
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$3.06MKD 163
38.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$7.37MKD 391
154.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$0.99MKD 52.3
77.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$1.09MKD 57.7
153.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.68MKD 36.04
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$19.80MKD 1,050
-42.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$1.11MKD 58.9
182.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.53MKD 28.32
96.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$6.76MKD 359
103.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.47MKD 78.1
-8.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$32.0KMKD 1.7M
-13.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
0.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$120MKD 6,387
2.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$16.92MKD 898
-20.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$15.39MKD 816
21.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$18.98MKD 1,007
225.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$4.83MKD 256
89.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$220MKD 11.7K
219.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$1,180MKD 62.6K
1245.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$38.25MKD 2,030
55.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$47.45MKD 2,518
-26.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$74.0MKD 3,927
55.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$46.41MKD 2,463
81.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$261MKD 13.8K
137.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$207MKD 11.0K
108.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$559MKD 29.7K
268.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$314MKD 16.7K
381.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$1,652MKD 87.7K
120.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$1,475MKD 78.3K
78.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$578MKD 30.6K
-12.22%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kumanovo: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $261 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 14% 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: $293 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: $1,261 in Phuket, $811 in Kumanovo – roughly 55% 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 $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,217 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 $1,261 in Phuket and $811 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 $811, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 $811 in Kumanovo to $1,261 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.