🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $894 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,253 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Sveti Nikole versus $2,043 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,811 in Sveti Nikole versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Sveti Nikole costs roughly 29% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sveti Nikole35% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sveti Nikole
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38MKD 495
$4.56฿150
105.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.67MKD 1,828
$32.62฿1,073
6.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40MKD 285
$8.90฿293
-39.33%
Cappuccino
$1.75MKD 92.1
$2.80฿92.2
-37.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MKD 76.5
$0.88฿28.94
64.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01MKD 53.5
$0.49฿16.08
106.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58MKD 83.3
$2.39฿78.5
-33.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86MKD 98.3
$3.71฿122
-49.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sveti Nikole
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MKD 74.1
$1.79฿58.8
-21.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56MKD 29.58
$1.44฿47.40
-61.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20MKD 63.3
$1.58฿52.1
-24.05%
Eggs
$2.55MKD 135
$2.13฿69.9
19.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.66MKD 509
$19.92฿655
-51.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.64MKD 245
$3.43฿113
35.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.40MKD 654
$11.33฿372
9.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39MKD 73.4
$2.95฿97.0
-52.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36MKD 71.6
$1.72฿56.6
-20.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MKD 71.4
$2.32฿76.5
-41.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.78MKD 93.8
$2.08฿68.4
-14.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79MKD 41.50
$1.47฿48.34
-46.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21MKD 63.9
$1.36฿44.65
-11.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83MKD 43.89
$1.10฿36.13
-24.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41MKD 21.58
$0.57฿18.89
-28.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13MKD 165
$4.27฿140
-26.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.45MKD 340
$18.42฿606
-64.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MKD 55.8
$1.87฿61.5
-43.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MKD 77.7
$2.92฿96.1
-49.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Sveti Nikole
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78MKD 41.20
$2.22฿73.0
-64.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.00MKD 1,318
$22.90฿753
9.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.55MKD 81.8
$3.03฿99.6
-48.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06MKD 56.0
$1.07฿35.32
-0.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.83MKD 202
$3.93฿129
-2.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MKD 76.1
$1.49฿49.06
-3.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8KMKD 1.8M
$27.1K฿892.0K
24.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KMKD 1.5M
$27.5K฿902.6K
2.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sveti Nikole
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152MKD 8,017
$103฿3,380
47.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.96MKD 841
$10.99฿361
45.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.48MKD 658
$17.51฿576
-28.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sveti Nikole
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.62MKD 1,245
$53.5฿1,760
-55.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.78MKD 885
$11.20฿368
49.82%
Cinema Ticket
$5.21MKD 275
$7.48฿246
-30.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sveti Nikole
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$356MKD 18.8K
$557฿18.3K
-36.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,864MKD 256.5K
$11.9K฿389.7K
-58.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sveti Nikole
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.0MKD 4,062
$64.1฿2,107
20.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.42MKD 1,762
$29.07฿956
14.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.6MKD 4,410
$96.0฿3,155
-12.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.8MKD 4,685
$90.3฿2,970
-1.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sveti Nikole
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312MKD 16.5K
$730฿24.0K
-57.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184MKD 9,690
$500฿16.4K
-63.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$491MKD 25.9K
$2,090฿68.7K
-76.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MKD 16.1K
$1,209฿39.8K
-74.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,613MKD 85.0K
$3,596฿118.2K
-55.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,204MKD 63.5K
$2,512฿82.6K
-52.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sveti Nikole
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$569MKD 30.0K
$503฿16.6K
13.13%
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 Sveti Nikole: August 29, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Sveti Nikole and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sveti Nikole pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Sveti Nikole vs $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $273, with Sveti Nikole cheaper for home cooking.
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
Sveti Nikole vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Sveti Nikole?
Sveti Nikole is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sveti Nikole or Phuket?
Average pay runs 13% higher in Sveti Nikole, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Sveti Nikole and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $312 in Sveti Nikole versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $356 in Sveti Nikole versus $557 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Sveti Nikole and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% 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 Sveti Nikole or in Phuket?
At $894 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sveti Nikole but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sveti Nikole the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sveti Nikole or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Sveti Nikole 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, Sveti Nikole or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Sveti Nikole and Phuket 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 Sveti Nikole gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sveti Nikole vs other spots: cost of living compared