For one person, living is cheaper in North Macedonia: $940 a month against $2,626 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $20,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Australia and in North Macedonia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Australia and in North Macedonia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,626 per month in Australia vs $940 in North Macedonia, rent included.
Australia $2,626
North Macedonia $940
A couple spends around $3,810 per month in Australia vs $1,393 in North Macedonia, rent included.
Australia $3,810
North Macedonia $1,393
A family of three spends $4,994 per month in Australia vs $1,847 in North Macedonia, rent included.
Australia $4,994
North Macedonia $1,847
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,068–$3,303) than in North Macedonia ($730–$1,112), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Australia is about 179% higher than in North Macedonia on average.
📊
Australia sits 93% above the global median, while North Macedonia is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65A$25.00
$7.37MKD 405
139.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.2A$121
$27.76MKD 1,527
206.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09A$15.71
$5.37MKD 295
106.52%
Cappuccino
$3.90A$5.52
$1.67MKD 91.7
133.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85A$4.04
$1.62MKD 89.0
75.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31A$3.28
$1.18MKD 65.0
95.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.53A$10.66
$2.15MKD 118
250.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.59A$12.16
$2.69MKD 148
219.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76A$2.49
$1.29MKD 70.8
36.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81A$3.98
$0.73MKD 40.03
284.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24A$3.18
$1.56MKD 85.6
43.59%
Eggs
$5.02A$7.12
$2.21MKD 121
127.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.87A$13.98
$8.29MKD 456
19.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32A$13.20
$6.77MKD 372
37.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.86A$21.05
$12.23MKD 673
21.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82A$5.41
$1.16MKD 64.0
229.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92A$4.14
$1.43MKD 78.7
104.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.13A$4.44
$1.33MKD 73.2
135.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.81A$6.81
$1.77MKD 97.4
171.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.80A$3.97
$0.94MKD 51.8
197.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.38A$3.37
$0.97MKD 53.3
145.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.37A$3.36
$0.67MKD 36.88
253.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65A$2.34
$0.51MKD 28.10
223.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$39.13A$55.4
$3.26MKD 179
1100.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.93A$19.73
$5.48MKD 301
154.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.96A$7.02
$0.99MKD 54.7
401.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17A$7.33
$1.34MKD 73.9
285.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.42A$3.43
$0.70MKD 38.48
245.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.6A$134
$25.31MKD 1,392
273.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49A$4.95
$1.26MKD 69.1
176.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60A$2.26
$0.68MKD 37.38
135.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.84A$56.4
$6.68MKD 367
496.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39A$1.97
$1.47MKD 80.8
-5.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0KA$42.5K
$33.9KMKD 1.9M
-11.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KA$36.5K
$27.7KMKD 1.5M
-7.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205A$290
$144MKD 7,922
42.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.33A$40.14
$17.29MKD 951
63.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.8A$83.3
$18.06MKD 994
225.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7A$78.8
$26.80MKD 1,475
107.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.57A$27.73
$14.58MKD 802
34.22%
Cinema Ticket
$15.38A$21.78
$6.51MKD 358
136.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,145A$3,039
$289MKD 15.9K
643.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3KA$26.0K
$4,691MKD 258.1K
291.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.3A$111
$66.4MKD 3,654
17.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3A$79.7
$38.71MKD 2,130
45.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115A$163
$88.1MKD 4,848
30.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123A$174
$103MKD 5,675
19.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,591A$2,254
$306MKD 16.8K
419.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293A$1,831
$241MKD 13.3K
436.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,524A$3,576
$533MKD 29.3K
373.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,005A$2,841
$357MKD 19.7K
461.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,751A$12.4K
$1,930MKD 106.2K
353.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,260A$8,868
$1,360MKD 74.8K
360.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
North Macedonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,984A$5,644
$732MKD 40.3K
444.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.93
4.69
26.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Australia: October 27, 2026
Last update for North Macedonia: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Australia
$1.3K 49.2%
North Macedonia
$241 25.6% ↓ 81.4%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Australia
$374 14.3%
North Macedonia
$191 20.4% ↓ 48.9%$183
🍽Eating Out
Australia
$297 11.3%
North Macedonia
$122 13% ↓ 58.7%$174
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
$292 11.1%
North Macedonia
$179 19.1% ↓ 38.6%$113
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Australia
$168 6.4%
North Macedonia
$133 14.2% ↓ 20.5%$34
🚌Getting Around
Australia
$116 4.4%
North Macedonia
$33 3.5% ↓ 71.7%$83
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Australia
$86 3.3%
North Macedonia
$40 4.2% ↓ 53.9%$47
🏠Accommodation & Living
Australia
$2K 40.2%
North Macedonia
$357 19.3% ↓ 82.2%$1.6K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Australia
$848 17%
North Macedonia
$452 24.5% ↓ 46.7%$396
🍽Eating Out
Australia
$1K 20.4%
North Macedonia
$383 20.7% ↓ 62.4%$635
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
$320 6.4%
North Macedonia
$197 10.7% ↓ 38.6%$124
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Australia
$373 7.5%
North Macedonia
$296 16.1% ↓ 20.5%$76
🚌Getting Around
Australia
$236 4.7%
North Macedonia
$67 3.6% ↓ 71.7%$169
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Australia
$192 3.9%
North Macedonia
$94 5.1% ↓ 51%$98
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,383 in Australia vs $274 in North Macedonia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,749 in Canberra and $394 in Skopje.
💰Average salary: $3,874 in Australia vs $639 in North Macedonia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 405% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 211% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 250% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are about 6.1 times higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
Australia→North Macedonia15,480 km≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
Australia
North Macedonia
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 64% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia: a central one-bedroom averages $1,383 versus $274 in North Macedonia.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in North Macedonia – part of why living there is about 64% cheaper overall.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Australia or in 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 to North Macedonia?
North Macedonia is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.