Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and North Macedonia Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and North Macedonia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,184 per month in Australia vs $866 in North Macedonia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,219 per month in Australia vs $1,293 in North Macedonia, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,253 per month in Australia vs $1,719 in North Macedonia, rent included.

Australia costs about 152% more than North Macedonia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 63% above the global median, while North Macedonia is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,592$2,842) than North Macedonia ($759$1,105), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.44 A$23.23
$7.58 MKD 402
116.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.1 A$110
$28.00 MKD 1,486
179.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 A$14.05
$5.80 MKD 308
71.38%
Cappuccino
$3.60 A$5.08
$1.84 MKD 97.8
95.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 A$3.78
$1.75 MKD 92.7
53.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 A$3.02
$1.23 MKD 65.3
73.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.53 A$9.23
$2.32 MKD 123
181.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 A$9.96
$2.89 MKD 153
143.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 A$2.23
$1.30 MKD 69.2
21.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.57
$0.71 MKD 37.48
256.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 A$2.93
$1.61 MKD 85.3
28.57%
Eggs
$4.30 A$6.08
$2.25 MKD 119
91.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.03 A$12.76
$8.88 MKD 471
1.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.55 A$12.08
$7.41 MKD 393
15.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 A$19.72
$12.27 MKD 651
13.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 A$4.49
$0.99 MKD 52.6
221.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$4.01
$1.42 MKD 75.5
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.17
$1.30 MKD 69.0
126.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.43 A$6.26
$1.91 MKD 101
131.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 A$3.47
$0.93 MKD 49.27
164.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 A$3.07
$0.99 MKD 52.3
119.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 A$3.24
$0.68 MKD 36.27
236.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 A$2.22
$0.56 MKD 29.98
180.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.87 A$43.61
$3.13 MKD 166
886.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.06 A$19.86
$6.37 MKD 338
120.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.55 A$6.43
$1.04 MKD 55.1
337.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81 A$6.80
$1.47 MKD 78.1
227.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.87 A$4.05
$0.77 MKD 41.11
272.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.8 A$135
$28.14 MKD 1,493
240.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 A$5.15
$1.15 MKD 61.1
217.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 A$2.49
$0.56 MKD 29.79
214.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.27 A$54.1
$7.67 MKD 407
398.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 A$1.63
$1.53 MKD 81.4
-24.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K A$40.1K
$34.5K MKD 1.8M
-17.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K A$32.5K
$31.1K MKD 1.6M
-25.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 A$251
$149 MKD 7,879
19.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.46 A$37.38
$17.59 MKD 933
50.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1 A$76.4
$18.74 MKD 994
188.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.64 A$65.9
$31.81 MKD 1,688
46.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.54 A$23.37
$14.49 MKD 769
14.15%
Cinema Ticket
$13.65 A$19.28
$6.50 MKD 345
110.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,575 A$2,225
$283 MKD 15.0K
457.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$17.9K
$4,106 MKD 217.9K
209.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.5 A$101
$69.6 MKD 3,695
2.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 A$71.8
$41.42 MKD 2,198
22.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 A$142
$96.9 MKD 5,140
3.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 A$153
$111 MKD 5,866
-2.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,384 A$1,955
$349 MKD 18.5K
296.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 A$1,562
$257 MKD 13.7K
329.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,298 A$3,246
$574 MKD 30.4K
300.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,728 A$2,441
$399 MKD 21.2K
332.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,610 A$10.8K
$2,026 MKD 107.5K
275.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,504 A$7,776
$1,397 MKD 74.1K
293.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,002 A$5,654
$750 MKD 39.8K
433.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
4.76
33.40%

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

Last update for Australia: June 7, 2026

Last update for North Macedonia: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $285 in North Macedonia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,568 in Canberra and $429 in Skopje.

Average salary: $3,845 in Australia vs $662 in North Macedonia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 332% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 196% more in Australia.

Public transport is 219% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 481% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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
Australia vs North Macedonia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than North Macedonia?
North Macedonia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 138% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in North Macedonia, contributing to the overall 138% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Australia or North Macedonia?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in North Macedonia, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or North Macedonia?
North Macedonia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Australia vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries