Cost of Living Comparison Between Veles and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Veles and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $770 in Veles versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,144 in Veles versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,517 in Veles versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Veles costs roughly 39% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Veles 43% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.80 MKD 306
$4.70 ฿153
23.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.89 MKD 996
$45.37 ฿1,482
-58.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.12 MKD 270
$8.43 ฿275
-39.26%
Cappuccino
$1.59 MKD 83.6
$2.93 ฿95.6
-45.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 MKD 69.3
$0.69 ฿22.40
91.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 MKD 44.50
$0.37 ฿11.99
127.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 MKD 77.7
$2.41 ฿78.6
-39.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 MKD 139
$3.72 ฿122
-28.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 MKD 55.2
$2.23 ฿72.9
-52.91%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 MKD 28.91
$1.83 ฿59.8
-69.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 MKD 78.3
$2.17 ฿70.8
-31.34%
Eggs
$2.09 MKD 110
$2.21 ฿72.3
-5.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.10 MKD 163
$19.74 ฿645
-84.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 MKD 214
$3.63 ฿119
11.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.42 MKD 707
$13.53 ฿442
-0.81%
Apples (1kg)
$1.07 MKD 56.1
$3.28 ฿107
-67.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 MKD 73.7
$1.61 ฿52.6
-13.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.25 MKD 65.9
$2.41 ฿78.6
-48.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 MKD 83.8
$2.08 ฿68.1
-23.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 MKD 52.0
$1.53 ฿49.93
-35.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 MKD 73.8
$1.48 ฿48.36
-5.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 MKD 30.27
$0.99 ฿32.29
-42.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 MKD 27.78
$0.51 ฿16.67
3.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03 MKD 160
$4.41 ฿144
-31.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.48 MKD 342
$19.38 ฿633
-66.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 MKD 53.6
$1.78 ฿58.1
-42.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 MKD 98.1
$2.71 ฿88.6
-31.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Veles
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 MKD 35.52
$1.37 ฿44.79
-51.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.1 MKD 2,638
$11.39 ฿372
339.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 MKD 58.0
$3.02 ฿98.6
-63.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 MKD 25.71
$0.99 ฿32.48
-50.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.51 MKD 343
$14.10 ฿461
-53.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 MKD 75.6
$1.36 ฿44.51
5.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K MKD 1.4M
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-3.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K MKD 1.3M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-24.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 MKD 6,111
$122 ฿3,975
-4.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.27 MKD 910
$13.57 ฿443
27.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.28 MKD 647
$18.31 ฿598
-32.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.78 MKD 1,359
$60.2 ฿1,967
-57.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.86 MKD 98.2
$17.14 ฿560
-89.15%
Cinema Ticket
$3.36 MKD 177
$8.69 ฿284
-61.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$218 MKD 11.5K
$693 ฿22.6K
-68.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,216 MKD 64.1K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-92.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.63 MKD 1,193
$59.5 ฿1,944
-61.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.03 MKD 1,003
$34.77 ฿1,136
-45.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 MKD 3,968
$115 ฿3,743
-34.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MKD 5,981
$83.3 ฿2,720
36.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Veles
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$220 MKD 11.6K
$613 ฿20.0K
-64.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 MKD 9,198
$437 ฿14.3K
-60.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$293 MKD 15.4K
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-86.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 MKD 12.5K
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-84.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,239 MKD 65.3K
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-66.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$952 MKD 50.2K
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-63.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$606 MKD 31.9K
$508 ฿16.6K
19.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.1
5.33
33.21%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Veles: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $220 in Veles and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Veles pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Veles vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $163 vs $293 per month, with Veles cheaper across the board.

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
Veles vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Veles?
Veles is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Veles or Phuket?
Veles pays 19% more on average, 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 Veles and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $220 in Veles versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $218 in Veles versus $693 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 Veles and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 80% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Veles or Phuket?
At $770 in Veles versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Veles but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Veles the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Veles or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Veles 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, Veles or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Veles 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 Veles gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Veles vs other spots: cost of living compared

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