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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $969 per month in Abakan vs $1,094 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,449 per month in Abakan vs $1,636 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,929 per month in Abakan vs $2,178 in Skopje, rent included.

Abakan is about 11% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Abakan and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Abakan 27% lower, Skopje 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.34 ₽743
$7.42 MKD 397
25.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.80 ₽1,576
$33.79 MKD 1,806
-41.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.51 ₽518
$6.65 MKD 355
-2.11%
Cappuccino
$2.79 ₽222
$2.24 MKD 119
24.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₽98.2
$2.04 MKD 109
-39.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₽30.59
$1.29 MKD 69.1
-70.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 ₽95.1
$2.60 MKD 139
-54.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 ₽102
$3.43 MKD 183
-62.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 ₽97.3
$1.27 MKD 68.1
-3.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 ₽52.7
$0.84 MKD 44.80
-21.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ₽113
$1.69 MKD 90.5
-15.98%
Eggs
$1.78 ₽142
$2.17 MKD 116
-17.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.72 ₽853
$9.26 MKD 495
15.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.93 ₽392
$8.00 MKD 428
-38.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 ₽708
$13.41 MKD 717
-33.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 ₽142
$1.02 MKD 54.6
74.51%
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 ₽175
$1.37 MKD 73.0
59.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 ₽159
$1.37 MKD 73.0
45.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 ₽214
$2.08 MKD 111
29.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 ₽91.6
$0.88 MKD 46.92
30.68%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 ₽57.6
$0.97 MKD 51.6
-25.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₽111
$0.73 MKD 39.00
90.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₽57.4
$0.59 MKD 31.42
22.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91 ₽232
$3.26 MKD 174
-10.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.33 ₽822
$7.56 MKD 404
36.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ₽79.4
$1.05 MKD 56.3
-4.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ₽150
$1.55 MKD 82.9
21.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 ₽27.52
$0.77 MKD 41.13
-54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.16 MKD 1,505
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₽103
$0.98 MKD 52.3
31.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ₽28.12
$0.53 MKD 28.28
-33.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.45 ₽513
$7.71 MKD 412
-16.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 ₽56.8
$1.47 MKD 78.6
-51.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K ₽2.7M
$34.2K MKD 1.8M
0.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K ₽2.8M
$29.4K MKD 1.6M
19.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 ₽8,696
$160 MKD 8,529
-31.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.00 ₽478
$17.94 MKD 959
-66.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.77 ₽618
$19.42 MKD 1,038
-59.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.08 ₽2,792
$38.64 MKD 2,065
-9.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.95 MKD 959
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.02 ₽400
$6.44 MKD 344
-22.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 ₽25.6K
$312 MKD 16.7K
2.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,987 ₽556.1K
$4,479 MKD 239.3K
56.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5 ₽4,015
$76.2 MKD 4,071
-33.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 ₽4,049
$39.60 MKD 2,116
28.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 ₽8,020
$100 MKD 5,358
0.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ₽8,166
$111 MKD 5,948
-7.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ₽35.4K
$422 MKD 22.5K
5.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$301 ₽24.0K
$309 MKD 16.5K
-2.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$777 ₽61.8K
$641 MKD 34.3K
21.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₽40.2K
$467 MKD 25.0K
8.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,762 ₽140.2K
$2,687 MKD 143.6K
-34.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,410 ₽112.2K
$1,745 MKD 93.3K
-19.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ₽49.2K
$882 MKD 47.1K
-29.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.33
4.54
237.67%

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

Last update for Abakan: July 25, 2026

Last update for Skopje: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Abakan versus $422 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 43% 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 $20.00 in Abakan versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $212 – 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 13%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,454 per month in Abakan and $1,641 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 $969 in Abakan and $1,094 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 $322 per month in Abakan and $312 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 $969, than in Skopje at $1,094. 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.

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