Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Koh Samui Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Koh Samui

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Skopje 14% lower, Koh Samui 12% lower.

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

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