😐A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $808 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,202 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,596 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 – Phuket5% lower, Kumanovo39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$5.79MKD 312
-22.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,525
$27.75MKD 1,492
64.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿293
$5.12MKD 275
71.09%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.3
$1.54MKD 83.1
92.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.96
$1.62MKD 87.1
-57.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.07
$1.16MKD 62.2
-66.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.7
$1.58MKD 85.1
60.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$1.73MKD 93.2
116.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.8
$1.26MKD 67.6
70.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.7
$0.62MKD 33.25
193.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.1
$1.77MKD 95.1
23.16%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.2
$2.09MKD 112
7.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿669
$7.18MKD 386
178.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$7.04MKD 378
-48.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿453
$11.30MKD 608
20.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿109
$0.68MKD 36.35
376.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.7
$1.40MKD 75.2
17.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.0
$1.31MKD 70.7
77.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.3
$1.09MKD 58.8
89.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$0.91MKD 48.88
70.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.67
$0.72MKD 38.54
102.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.94
$0.53MKD 28.58
84.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.13
$0.49MKD 26.10
-2.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿146
$2.99MKD 161
45.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿621
$7.24MKD 390
156.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.1
$1.00MKD 54.0
86.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.8
$1.04MKD 55.9
154.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.40
$0.67MKD 36.15
111.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿387
$20.32MKD 1,093
-43.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.15MKD 62.0
175.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.51
$0.49MKD 26.57
110.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿465
$6.40MKD 344
117.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.96
$1.49MKD 79.9
-10.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿929.6K
$31.4KMKD 1.7M
-11.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$34.4KMKD 1.9M
-3.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,116
$121MKD 6,532
1.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿461
$16.67MKD 897
-17.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿613
$15.61MKD 839
17.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,030
$18.65MKD 1,003
225.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿574
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿297
$4.76MKD 256
86.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿23.0K
$222MKD 12.0K
209.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿527.8K
$1,183MKD 63.6K
1233.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,984
$37.65MKD 2,024
57.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,160
$48.65MKD 2,616
-28.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,853
$74.4MKD 4,002
54.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,802
$46.07MKD 2,477
81.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.8K
$260MKD 14.0K
139.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$208MKD 11.2K
114.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿68.0K
$566MKD 30.4K
259.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿50.0K
$314MKD 16.9K
376.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.6K
$1,620MKD 87.1K
113.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.7K
$1,481MKD 79.6K
70.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kumanovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$581MKD 31.3K
-15.10%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kumanovo: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $260 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 18% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $28.00 in Kumanovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $181 – 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: $1,264 in Phuket, $808 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,212 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 $1,264 in Phuket and $808 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 in Kumanovo?
Public transport costs about 76% 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 $808, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $808 in Kumanovo to $1,264 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.