🙂A single person spends $1,182 per month in Skopje vs $1,209 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,723 per month in Skopje vs $2,008 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,263 per month in Skopje vs $2,806 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂Skopje is about 2% cheaper than Koh Samui, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Skopje and Koh Samui are more affordable than the global median – Skopje14% lower, Koh Samui12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.68MKD 511
$4.62฿153
109.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.37MKD 1,816
$32.89฿1,087
4.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65MKD 351
$8.80฿291
-24.43%
Cappuccino
$2.23MKD 118
$2.92฿96.5
-23.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86MKD 98.5
$0.89฿29.54
108.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28MKD 67.6
$0.49฿16.19
161.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.81MKD 148
$2.46฿81.1
14.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25MKD 172
$3.85฿127
-15.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MKD 70.4
$1.90฿62.6
-30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78MKD 41.46
$1.43฿47.23
-45.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94MKD 102
$1.60฿52.9
21.25%
Eggs
$2.47MKD 131
$2.17฿71.6
13.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.73MKD 461
$20.08฿663
-56.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.49MKD 396
$3.41฿113
119.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.07MKD 796
$11.11฿367
35.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53MKD 80.7
$3.04฿101
-49.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MKD 79.0
$1.66฿54.7
-9.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38MKD 73.0
$2.27฿75.2
-39.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MKD 110
$2.21฿73.0
-5.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92MKD 48.78
$1.50฿49.46
-38.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84MKD 44.24
$1.42฿46.92
-40.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62MKD 32.51
$1.14฿37.50
-45.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MKD 30.31
$0.55฿18.26
3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63MKD 192
$4.53฿150
-19.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.37MKD 389
$19.00฿628
-61.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MKD 57.5
$1.82฿60.0
-40.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MKD 82.3
$2.85฿94.1
-45.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.80MKD 42.10
$2.42฿79.8
-66.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.14MKD 1,487
$45.31฿1,497
-37.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11MKD 58.4
$3.21฿106
-65.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68MKD 35.75
$1.10฿36.22
-38.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.98MKD 422
$4.23฿140
88.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MKD 81.2
$1.52฿50.1
1.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0KMKD 2.0M
$28.8K฿952.3K
28.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KMKD 1.5M
$28.9K฿953.3K
-1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$168MKD 8,854
$110฿3,627
52.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.55MKD 1,033
$11.81฿390
65.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.73MKD 1,042
$18.43฿609
7.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.05MKD 2,010
$56.9฿1,879
-33.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.83MKD 942
$11.82฿390
50.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MKD 377
$8.38฿277
-14.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$389MKD 20.5K
$629฿20.8K
-38.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,501MKD 290.6K
$12.7K฿421.0K
-56.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.6MKD 4,837
$65.0฿2,147
40.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.71MKD 2,098
$29.07฿961
36.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MKD 5,629
$98.4฿3,250
8.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114MKD 6,023
$91.2฿3,013
25.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$443MKD 23.4K
$628฿20.7K
-29.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339MKD 17.9K
$420฿13.9K
-19.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750MKD 39.6K
$1,779฿58.8K
-57.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$535MKD 28.3K
$1,028฿34.0K
-47.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,778MKD 146.8K
$3,020฿99.8K
-7.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,892MKD 99.9K
$2,162฿71.4K
-12.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$906MKD 47.9K
$393฿13.0K
130.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
5.57
-23.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Skopje: September 6, 2026
Last update for Koh Samui: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Skopje versus $628 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 130% 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 $34.00 in Skopje versus $33.00 in Koh Samui. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Skopje vs $276 in Koh Samui – so Skopje wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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: $1,182 in Skopje, $1,209 in Koh Samui – roughly 2% 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 $1,774 per month in Skopje and $1,814 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 27% 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 $34.00 in Skopje and $33.00 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 $1,182, than in Koh Samui at $1,209. 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 $1,182 in Skopje to $1,209 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.