😐A single person spends $2,184 per month in Australia vs $867 in North Macedonia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,217 per month in Australia vs $1,296 in North Macedonia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,249 per month in Australia vs $1,725 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 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,584–$2,827) than North Macedonia ($759–$1,083), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24A$22.57
$7.70MKD 405
110.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1A$107
$28.92MKD 1,519
166.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.81A$13.64
$5.73MKD 301
71.20%
Cappuccino
$3.58A$4.97
$1.95MKD 102
83.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57A$3.57
$1.79MKD 94.0
43.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18A$3.03
$1.17MKD 61.7
86.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.63A$9.22
$2.28MKD 120
190.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12A$9.90
$2.85MKD 149
149.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50A$2.09
$1.29MKD 67.9
16.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53A$3.51
$0.77MKD 40.61
228.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07A$2.88
$1.68MKD 88.0
23.21%
Eggs
$4.29A$5.96
$2.23MKD 117
92.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.65A$12.02
$9.00MKD 472
-3.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34A$11.60
$7.20MKD 378
15.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.90A$19.33
$12.44MKD 653
11.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30A$4.58
$1.05MKD 55.0
214.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77A$3.85
$1.41MKD 73.8
96.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95A$4.10
$1.29MKD 67.9
128.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19A$5.83
$1.93MKD 101
117.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42A$3.36
$0.92MKD 48.14
163.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10A$2.92
$0.98MKD 51.2
114.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.26A$3.14
$0.65MKD 34.31
247.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50A$2.09
$0.56MKD 29.65
167.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.58A$43.90
$3.15MKD 166
902.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.29A$19.86
$6.55MKD 344
118.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.59A$6.38
$1.07MKD 56.3
328.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82A$6.70
$1.43MKD 75.3
237.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.02A$4.19
$0.77MKD 40.19
292.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.3A$137
$28.52MKD 1,498
244.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48A$4.84
$1.10MKD 57.9
216.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75A$2.43
$0.62MKD 32.43
182.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$37.97A$52.8
$7.72MKD 405
391.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21A$1.68
$1.50MKD 78.9
-19.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KA$40.4K
$33.4KMKD 1.8M
-13.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KA$31.4K
$31.0KMKD 1.6M
-27.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177A$247
$152MKD 7,975
16.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.85A$37.32
$17.97MKD 944
49.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4A$72.9
$18.28MKD 960
186.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.57A$66.1
$30.94MKD 1,625
53.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.46A$22.88
$14.41MKD 757
14.23%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73A$19.09
$6.65MKD 349
106.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,593A$2,215
$281MKD 14.8K
466.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7KA$17.7K
$4,094MKD 215.0K
210.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0A$100
$71.4MKD 3,750
0.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3A$71.3
$41.96MKD 2,204
22.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103A$143
$95.2MKD 4,997
8.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$151
$110MKD 5,751
-0.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,401A$1,947
$342MKD 18.0K
309.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080A$1,501
$262MKD 13.8K
312.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,340A$3,253
$562MKD 29.5K
316.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,756A$2,441
$396MKD 20.8K
344.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,733A$10.7K
$1,995MKD 104.8K
287.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,563A$7,733
$1,489MKD 78.2K
273.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,000A$5,560
$782MKD 41.1K
411.18%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for North Macedonia: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $282 in North Macedonia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,529 in Canberra and $423 in Skopje.
💰Average salary: $3,878 in Australia vs $685 in North Macedonia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 337% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 196% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 219% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 466% 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 139% 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 139% 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.