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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $955 per month in Abakan vs $1,105 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,415 per month in Abakan vs $1,631 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,875 per month in Abakan vs $2,156 in Skopje, rent included.

Abakan is about 14% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Abakan and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Abakan 29% lower, Skopje 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.62 ₽697
$7.49 MKD 397
28.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.92 ₽1,444
$34.48 MKD 1,830
-42.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.24 ₽452
$6.75 MKD 358
-7.56%
Cappuccino
$2.91 ₽211
$2.30 MKD 122
26.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₽89.0
$2.01 MKD 106
-38.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₽28.13
$1.29 MKD 68.3
-69.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 ₽88.5
$2.60 MKD 138
-53.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 ₽94.3
$3.30 MKD 175
-60.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 ₽88.9
$1.34 MKD 71.0
-8.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 ₽47.50
$0.77 MKD 41.09
-14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 ₽104
$1.68 MKD 89.2
-14.29%
Eggs
$1.86 ₽135
$2.19 MKD 116
-15.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.67 ₽773
$9.35 MKD 496
14.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.97 ₽360
$7.76 MKD 412
-35.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.05 ₽656
$13.48 MKD 715
-32.86%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 ₽130
$1.07 MKD 56.7
67.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 ₽160
$1.42 MKD 75.3
55.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₽140
$1.38 MKD 73.2
39.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 ₽193
$2.08 MKD 110
27.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 ₽82.7
$0.88 MKD 46.94
29.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 ₽51.9
$0.93 MKD 49.41
-22.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₽103
$0.69 MKD 36.58
105.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₽51.6
$0.56 MKD 29.71
26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88 ₽209
$3.10 MKD 164
-7.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 ₽578
$7.29 MKD 387
9.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₽72.1
$1.11 MKD 59.0
-10.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₽141
$1.52 MKD 80.6
28.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₽26.85
$0.78 MKD 41.46
-52.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.09 MKD 1,491
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 ₽94.2
$0.96 MKD 51.1
35.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ₽25.60
$0.50 MKD 26.27
-30.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.18 ₽448
$7.68 MKD 407
-19.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 ₽51.9
$1.49 MKD 78.8
-51.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₽2.5M
$33.4K MKD 1.8M
3.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K ₽2.5M
$29.1K MKD 1.5M
19.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 ₽7,833
$159 MKD 8,449
-32.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.92 ₽429
$18.34 MKD 973
-67.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.98 ₽579
$19.12 MKD 1,015
-58.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.99 ₽2,536
$39.05 MKD 2,072
-10.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.56 MKD 932
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.09 ₽369
$6.47 MKD 343
-21.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 ₽23.8K
$321 MKD 17.0K
2.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,075 ₽512.6K
$4,590 MKD 243.5K
54.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 ₽3,648
$78.4 MKD 4,161
-35.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0 ₽3,698
$39.02 MKD 2,070
30.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₽7,248
$100 MKD 5,328
-0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ₽7,473
$113 MKD 5,970
-8.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 ₽31.8K
$429 MKD 22.7K
2.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 ₽22.1K
$313 MKD 16.6K
-2.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$755 ₽54.7K
$645 MKD 34.2K
17.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ₽36.3K
$455 MKD 24.1K
10.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,536 ₽183.8K
$2,768 MKD 146.9K
-8.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,687 ₽122.3K
$1,796 MKD 95.3K
-6.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abakan
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₽47.2K
$880 MKD 46.7K
-25.93%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Skopje: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Abakan versus $429 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 35% 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: $203 vs $211 – 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 16%, 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 $1,433 per month in Abakan and $1,657 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 vs Skopje?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $955 in Abakan and $1,105 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 $328 per month in Abakan and $321 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 Abakan or Skopje?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $955, than in Skopje at $1,105. 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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