Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Prilep Cost 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: Phuket 10% lower, Prilep 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$4.16 MKD 221
6.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$28.35 MKD 1,508
13.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$5.78 MKD 307
54.50%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.6
$1.53 MKD 81.4
89.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$1.62 MKD 86.1
-45.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$1.22 MKD 64.8
-60.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
$1.62 MKD 85.9
45.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$2.11 MKD 112
76.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$1.23 MKD 65.3
52.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$0.71 MKD 37.79
107.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$1.57 MKD 83.6
-1.27%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$2.04 MKD 108
2.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$7.21 MKD 384
171.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$6.10 MKD 324
-43.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$11.53 MKD 613
-1.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$0.92 MKD 48.80
223.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$1.44 MKD 76.8
16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$0.97 MKD 51.5
127.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$1.34 MKD 71.3
61.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$0.84 MKD 44.82
80.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$0.87 MKD 46.48
54.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$0.60 MKD 32.08
88.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.46 MKD 24.46
19.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.94 MKD 156
44.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
$5.05 MKD 269
278.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
$0.97 MKD 51.6
83.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$1.18 MKD 62.9
135.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
$0.36 MKD 19.34
519.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
$18.51 MKD 984
22.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$1.11 MKD 59.1
172.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$0.58 MKD 30.96
75.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$6.68 MKD 355
-41.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$1.48 MKD 78.9
0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$34.4K MKD 1.8M
-22.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$27.9K MKD 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
$128 MKD 6,815
-20.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$17.46 MKD 929
-35.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$14.54 MKD 773
19.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
$20.70 MKD 1,101
151.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
$8.28 MKD 441
33.70%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$5.28 MKD 281
45.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$281 MKD 14.9K
99.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$1,195 MKD 63.6K
862.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$38.42 MKD 2,043
64.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$36.97 MKD 1,966
-20.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$68.3 MKD 3,630
43.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$82.5 MKD 4,388
7.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$242 MKD 12.9K
204.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$176 MKD 9,365
173.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.3K
$506 MKD 26.9K
316.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.9K
$288 MKD 15.3K
326.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
$1,028 MKD 54.7K
251.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
$847 MKD 45.0K
207.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Prilep
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$622 MKD 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.

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