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: $765 in Veles versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,136 in Veles versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,507 in Veles versus $3,317 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
$5.77 MKD 309
$4.55 ฿153
26.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.54 MKD 995
$46.18 ฿1,554
-59.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 MKD 271
$8.84 ฿298
-42.87%
Cappuccino
$1.53 MKD 82.2
$3.06 ฿103
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MKD 71.2
$0.73 ฿24.42
82.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 MKD 45.34
$0.40 ฿13.40
112.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 MKD 81.4
$2.43 ฿81.8
-37.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MKD 148
$3.78 ฿127
-26.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 MKD 58.5
$2.26 ฿76.0
-51.77%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 MKD 29.48
$1.81 ฿60.9
-69.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 MKD 82.7
$2.25 ฿75.8
-31.56%
Eggs
$2.05 MKD 110
$2.25 ฿75.6
-8.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.04 MKD 163
$19.51 ฿656
-84.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.07 MKD 218
$3.65 ฿123
11.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.68 MKD 734
$13.05 ฿439
4.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 MKD 55.7
$3.23 ฿109
-67.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MKD 73.5
$1.62 ฿54.4
-15.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 MKD 67.5
$2.38 ฿80.2
-47.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 MKD 84.8
$2.03 ฿68.2
-22.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 MKD 52.6
$1.53 ฿51.6
-35.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 MKD 71.6
$1.50 ฿50.5
-11.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 MKD 30.99
$0.98 ฿32.93
-40.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MKD 28.94
$0.52 ฿17.40
3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94 MKD 158
$4.44 ฿149
-33.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.17 MKD 331
$18.32 ฿616
-66.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 MKD 53.7
$1.86 ฿62.7
-46.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 MKD 98.0
$2.68 ฿90.2
-31.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Veles
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MKD 36.66
$1.41 ฿47.49
-51.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.96 MKD 2,680
$11.70 ฿394
327.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 MKD 62.4
$3.11 ฿105
-62.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 MKD 26.40
$1.04 ฿35.08
-52.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 MKD 345
$14.11 ฿475
-54.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MKD 77.7
$1.31 ฿44.13
10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K MKD 1.4M
$27.8K ฿936.0K
-3.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K MKD 1.3M
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-26.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 MKD 6,154
$122 ฿4,120
-6.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.17 MKD 921
$13.59 ฿457
26.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.10 MKD 649
$18.70 ฿629
-35.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.15 MKD 1,403
$60.5 ฿2,035
-56.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.92 MKD 103
$16.98 ฿572
-88.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.35 MKD 180
$9.07 ฿305
-63.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$223 MKD 12.0K
$706 ฿23.8K
-68.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,210 MKD 64.9K
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-92.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.39 MKD 1,201
$58.6 ฿1,970
-61.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.06 MKD 1,022
$35.36 ฿1,190
-46.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 MKD 4,030
$115 ฿3,885
-34.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MKD 6,048
$83.7 ฿2,818
34.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Veles
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$226 MKD 12.1K
$626 ฿21.1K
-63.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 MKD 9,319
$445 ฿15.0K
-60.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 MKD 15.6K
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-85.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 MKD 13.0K
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-83.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,201 MKD 64.4K
$3,483 ฿117.2K
-65.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$957 MKD 51.3K
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-62.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Veles
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$603 MKD 32.4K
$500 ฿16.8K
20.71%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $226 in Veles and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Veles pays 21% 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 $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $163 vs $289 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 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Veles or Phuket?
Average pay runs 21% higher in Veles, 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: $226 in Veles versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $223 in Veles versus $706 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 in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 77% 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 Veles or in Phuket?
At $765 in Veles versus $1,250 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 63% 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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