🙂A single person spends $1,087 per month in Skopje vs $1,241 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,634 per month in Skopje vs $2,231 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,180 per month in Skopje vs $3,221 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂Skopje is about 12% cheaper than Koh Samui, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Skopje and Koh Samui are more affordable than the global median – Skopje19% lower, Koh Samui7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58MKD 407
$4.60฿154
64.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.45MKD 1,794
$45.95฿1,543
-27.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.70MKD 359
$8.54฿287
-21.55%
Cappuccino
$2.27MKD 122
$3.03฿102
-25.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03MKD 109
$0.68฿22.96
198.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29MKD 69.2
$0.36฿12.17
258.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66MKD 143
$2.52฿84.5
5.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35MKD 180
$3.79฿127
-11.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29MKD 69.4
$2.23฿75.0
-42.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76MKD 40.80
$1.83฿61.5
-58.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67MKD 89.6
$2.27฿76.2
-26.43%
Eggs
$2.21MKD 119
$2.24฿75.2
-1.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.13MKD 490
$19.51฿655
-53.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.78MKD 417
$3.75฿126
107.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.71MKD 735
$13.49฿453
1.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.06MKD 57.1
$3.36฿113
-68.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MKD 76.8
$1.68฿56.5
-14.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MKD 72.5
$2.31฿77.7
-41.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MKD 116
$2.08฿69.8
4.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89MKD 47.75
$1.59฿53.3
-44.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90MKD 48.45
$1.50฿50.4
-40.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69MKD 36.92
$1.01฿33.95
-31.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MKD 29.70
$0.52฿17.59
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18MKD 170
$4.33฿145
-26.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.26MKD 389
$18.53฿622
-60.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MKD 57.2
$1.77฿59.5
-39.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MKD 81.5
$2.81฿94.2
-45.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76MKD 40.94
$1.42฿47.81
-46.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.58MKD 1,533
$45.97฿1,543
-37.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96MKD 51.6
$3.17฿106
-69.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MKD 26.01
$1.05฿35.11
-54.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.41MKD 397
$14.69฿493
-49.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MKD 79.7
$1.42฿47.71
4.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7KMKD 1.8M
$29.5K฿991.0K
14.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KMKD 1.6M
$35.0K฿1.2M
-16.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160MKD 8,574
$129฿4,331
23.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.05MKD 968
$14.14฿475
27.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13MKD 1,026
$19.57฿657
-2.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.66MKD 2,074
$63.5฿2,131
-39.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.36MKD 931
$17.73฿595
-2.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.62MKD 355
$9.28฿311
-28.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320MKD 17.2K
$763฿25.6K
-58.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,642MKD 249.0K
$17.2K฿578.3K
-73.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.5MKD 4,157
$58.9฿1,976
31.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.16MKD 2,154
$34.45฿1,156
16.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,364
$116฿3,896
-13.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110MKD 5,913
$85.6฿2,875
28.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425MKD 22.8K
$515฿17.3K
-17.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310MKD 16.6K
$371฿12.5K
-16.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645MKD 34.6K
$1,735฿58.2K
-62.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$463MKD 24.8K
$1,278฿42.9K
-63.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,731MKD 146.5K
$2,973฿99.8K
-8.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,740MKD 93.3K
$2,121฿71.2K
-17.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$886MKD 47.5K
$392฿13.1K
126.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.54
5.33
-14.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026
Last update for Koh Samui: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Skopje versus $515 in Koh Samui. 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 126% higher in Skopje, 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 $33.00 in Skopje versus $46.00 in Koh Samui. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $293 – making Skopje 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
Skopje vs Koh Samui: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Skopje and in Koh Samui compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,087 in Skopje, $1,241 in Koh Samui – roughly 14% apart. Koh Samui costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Skopje compared to Koh Samui?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,631 per month in Skopje and $1,861 in Koh Samui. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Skopje and Koh Samui?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Skopje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Koh Samui, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Skopje and $46.00 in Koh Samui. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,087, than in Koh Samui at $1,241. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koh Samui it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Skopje and Koh Samui?
It depends on your priorities. Koh Samui has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,087 in Skopje to $1,241 in Koh Samui. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Skopje or Koh Samui 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 Skopje and Koh Samui?
If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Koh Samui makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.