Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and PrilepCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Prilep
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $765 in Prilep.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,157 in Prilep.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,548 in Prilep.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 61% more expensive than in Prilep, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Prilep44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$4.16MKD 221
6.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$28.35MKD 1,508
13.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$5.78MKD 307
54.50%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$1.53MKD 81.4
89.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$1.62MKD 86.1
-45.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$1.22MKD 64.8
-60.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$1.62MKD 85.9
45.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.11MKD 112
76.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.23MKD 65.3
52.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$0.71MKD 37.79
107.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.57MKD 83.6
-1.27%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$2.04MKD 108
2.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$7.21MKD 384
171.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$6.10MKD 324
-43.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$11.53MKD 613
-1.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$0.92MKD 48.80
223.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.44MKD 76.8
16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$0.97MKD 51.5
127.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$1.34MKD 71.3
61.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$0.84MKD 44.82
80.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$0.87MKD 46.48
54.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.60MKD 32.08
88.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.46MKD 24.46
19.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$2.94MKD 156
44.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$5.05MKD 269
278.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$0.97MKD 51.6
83.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$1.18MKD 62.9
135.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.36MKD 19.34
519.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$18.51MKD 984
22.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.11MKD 59.1
172.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$0.58MKD 30.96
75.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$6.68MKD 355
-41.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.48MKD 78.9
0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
-22.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$27.9KMKD 1.5M
-3.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$128MKD 6,815
-20.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$17.46MKD 929
-35.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$14.54MKD 773
19.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$20.70MKD 1,101
151.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$8.28MKD 441
33.70%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$5.28MKD 281
45.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$281MKD 14.9K
99.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$1,195MKD 63.6K
862.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$38.42MKD 2,043
64.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$36.97MKD 1,966
-20.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$68.3MKD 3,630
43.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$82.5MKD 4,388
7.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$242MKD 12.9K
204.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$176MKD 9,365
173.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$506MKD 26.9K
316.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$288MKD 15.3K
326.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$1,028MKD 54.7K
251.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$847MKD 45.0K
207.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$622MKD 33.1K
-20.67%
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 Prilep: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $242 in Prilep. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Prilep pays 26% 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 $28.00 in Prilep for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $174 per month, with Prilep 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 Prilep: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prilep cheaper than Phuket?
Prilep is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Prilep?
On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Prilep. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Prilep?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $242 in Prilep. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $281 in Prilep. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Prilep?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Prilep?
At $765 in Prilep versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Prilep but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Prilep the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Prilep more family-friendly?
For families, Prilep is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Prilep?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Prilep are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Prilep gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.