🙂A single person spends $1,112 per month in Skopje vs $1,248 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Skopje vs $2,238 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Skopje vs $3,228 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂Skopje is about 11% cheaper than Koh Samui, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Skopje and Koh Samui are more affordable than the global median – Skopje17% lower, Koh Samui7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.57MKD 399
$4.63฿151
63.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.02MKD 1,793
$46.36฿1,514
-26.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65MKD 350
$8.65฿283
-23.12%
Cappuccino
$2.19MKD 115
$2.99฿97.8
-26.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94MKD 102
$0.70฿22.72
177.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28MKD 67.5
$0.36฿11.81
255.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70MKD 142
$2.44฿79.8
10.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47MKD 183
$3.62฿118
-4.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34MKD 70.7
$2.22฿72.5
-39.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82MKD 43.38
$1.89฿61.6
-56.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75MKD 92.4
$2.20฿71.8
-20.45%
Eggs
$2.19MKD 115
$2.31฿75.3
-5.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22MKD 486
$19.75฿645
-53.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99MKD 421
$3.81฿124
109.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63MKD 719
$13.12฿429
3.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01MKD 53.4
$3.22฿105
-68.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41MKD 74.5
$1.64฿53.7
-14.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32MKD 69.6
$2.38฿77.6
-44.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MKD 115
$2.02฿66.1
7.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88MKD 46.57
$1.61฿52.7
-45.34%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92MKD 48.53
$1.51฿49.42
-39.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71MKD 37.43
$0.99฿32.20
-28.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MKD 30.60
$0.52฿17.06
11.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15MKD 166
$4.38฿143
-28.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.41MKD 391
$19.45฿635
-61.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MKD 55.9
$1.76฿57.4
-39.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MKD 79.8
$2.67฿87.1
-43.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MKD 40.44
$1.43฿46.85
-46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.67MKD 1,458
$45.97฿1,501
-39.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98MKD 51.5
$3.16฿103
-68.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.61
$1.08฿35.42
-54.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.60MKD 400
$14.42฿471
-47.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 77.3
$1.39฿45.23
5.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KMKD 1.8M
$29.6K฿968.0K
14.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KMKD 1.6M
$35.5K฿1.2M
-16.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160MKD 8,446
$126฿4,126
26.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.34MKD 966
$14.56฿476
25.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13MKD 1,008
$19.37฿633
-1.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.37MKD 2,022
$64.0฿2,089
-40.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.56MKD 925
$17.78฿581
-1.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72MKD 354
$9.43฿308
-28.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312MKD 16.5K
$767฿25.1K
-59.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,509MKD 237.6K
$17.3K฿564.3K
-73.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2MKD 4,067
$58.4฿1,906
32.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43MKD 2,131
$35.05฿1,145
15.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,275
$116฿3,788
-13.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110MKD 5,810
$85.2฿2,783
29.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429MKD 22.6K
$524฿17.1K
-18.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310MKD 16.3K
$382฿12.5K
-18.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645MKD 34.0K
$1,738฿56.8K
-62.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459MKD 24.2K
$1,243฿40.6K
-63.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,801MKD 147.6K
$3,123฿102.0K
-10.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,829MKD 96.4K
$2,263฿73.9K
-19.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$913MKD 48.1K
$402฿13.1K
126.83%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Koh Samui: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $524 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 127% 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 $46.00 in Koh Samui. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 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 Koh Samui compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,112 in Skopje, $1,248 in Koh Samui – roughly 12% 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 $1,667 per month in Skopje and $1,872 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 38% 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 $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 $1,112, than in Koh Samui at $1,248. 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 $1,112 in Skopje to $1,248 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.