Cost of Living Comparison Between Abakan and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Abakan and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $884 per month in Abakan vs $1,143 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,373 per month in Abakan vs $1,720 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,862 per month in Abakan vs $2,296 in Skopje, rent included.

Abakan is about 23% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Abakan and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Abakan 35% lower, Skopje 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.07 ₽935
$9.35 MKD 497
18.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.54 ₽2,749
$35.06 MKD 1,864
-7.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.24 ₽527
$6.78 MKD 360
-7.96%
Cappuccino
$3.04 ₽257
$2.18 MKD 116
39.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 ₽95.9
$1.90 MKD 101
-40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₽50.2
$1.36 MKD 72.5
-56.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 ₽147
$2.76 MKD 147
-36.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₽237
$3.35 MKD 178
-16.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 ₽93.3
$1.26 MKD 67.2
-12.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₽59.9
$0.81 MKD 43.24
-12.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ₽118
$1.89 MKD 101
-26.46%
Eggs
$1.45 ₽123
$2.52 MKD 134
-42.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.20 ₽946
$8.49 MKD 452
31.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.81 ₽491
$7.38 MKD 393
-21.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.26 ₽952
$15.17 MKD 807
-25.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.75 ₽148
$1.47 MKD 78.1
19.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₽152
$1.42 MKD 75.3
26.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ₽151
$1.35 MKD 71.6
31.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.65 ₽309
$2.10 MKD 112
73.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 ₽62.5
$0.85 MKD 45.28
-12.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ₽46.30
$0.81 MKD 43.02
-32.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 ₽116
$0.64 MKD 33.94
115.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₽65.1
$0.61 MKD 32.55
26.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₽249
$3.47 MKD 184
-14.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 ₽607
$7.33 MKD 390
-2.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₽88.7
$1.06 MKD 56.2
-0.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 ₽170
$1.52 MKD 81.0
32.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ₽36.09
$0.77 MKD 40.88
-44.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.58 MKD 1,520
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.27 ₽192
$1.15 MKD 61.0
97.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₽27.59
$0.62 MKD 33.22
-46.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.06 ₽512
$7.97 MKD 424
-23.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 ₽66.4
$1.59 MKD 84.3
-50.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K ₽3.3M
$36.7K MKD 1.9M
7.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3K ₽2.6M
$28.4K MKD 1.5M
10.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.1 ₽6,595
$160 MKD 8,502
-51.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.74 ₽823
$18.86 MKD 1,003
-48.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.73 ₽738
$19.61 MKD 1,043
-55.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.13 ₽2,968
$36.62 MKD 1,947
-4.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.52 ₽1,818
$17.67 MKD 940
21.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.00 ₽507
$7.73 MKD 411
-22.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$330 ₽27.9K
$364 MKD 19.4K
-9.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,255 ₽613.0K
$5,701 MKD 303.2K
27.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.23 ₽3,568
$88.4 MKD 4,702
-52.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 ₽4,229
$38.29 MKD 2,036
30.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 ₽8,952
$107 MKD 5,690
-0.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1 ₽6,597
$119 MKD 6,307
-34.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$341 ₽28.8K
$439 MKD 23.3K
-22.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ₽20.2K
$332 MKD 17.7K
-28.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$527 ₽44.6K
$763 MKD 40.6K
-30.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 ₽29.8K
$522 MKD 27.8K
-32.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,655 ₽224.3K
$2,748 MKD 146.1K
-3.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,730 ₽146.2K
$1,838 MKD 97.7K
-5.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$585 ₽49.5K
$920 MKD 48.9K
-36.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21
4.23
396.45%

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

Last update for Abakan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Skopje: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $341 in Abakan versus $439 in Skopje. 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 57% higher in Skopje, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Abakan versus $35.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $215 – making Abakan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Abakan vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skopje cheaper than Abakan?
Yes – Skopje is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,326 per month in Abakan and $1,715 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abakan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Abakan and in Skopje?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $884 in Abakan and $1,143 in Skopje. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Abakan and $364 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Abakan or in Skopje?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $884, than in Skopje at $1,143. In Abakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Abakan or Skopje more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abakan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abakan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skopje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Abakan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities