Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Bialystok vs $1,083 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,045 per month in Bialystok vs $1,616 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,642 per month in Bialystok vs $2,149 in Skopje, rent included.

Bialystok costs about 34% more than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Bialystok sits 8% above the global median, while Skopje is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bialystok
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40 zł 34.12
$7.47 MKD 392
25.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.13 zł 171
$34.48 MKD 1,811
36.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.16 zł 29.61
$6.60 MKD 347
23.64%
Cappuccino
$3.18 zł 11.55
$2.29 MKD 120
38.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 zł 6.77
$1.96 MKD 103
-4.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 zł 6.08
$1.29 MKD 67.7
29.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 zł 12.18
$2.57 MKD 135
30.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 zł 10.72
$3.30 MKD 173
-10.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bialystok
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 zł 3.74
$1.34 MKD 70.2
-23.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 zł 4.48
$0.77 MKD 40.27
59.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 zł 4.40
$1.69 MKD 88.7
-28.40%
Eggs
$3.07 zł 11.13
$2.25 MKD 118
36.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.73 zł 31.68
$8.97 MKD 471
-2.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.98 zł 21.71
$8.11 MKD 426
-26.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 zł 39.55
$13.90 MKD 730
-21.58%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 zł 3.52
$1.02 MKD 53.8
-4.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 zł 6.33
$1.36 MKD 71.6
27.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 zł 6.29
$1.36 MKD 71.6
27.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 zł 7.79
$2.16 MKD 113
-0.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 zł 3.35
$0.84 MKD 43.97
9.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 zł 3.66
$0.98 MKD 51.6
3.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 zł 4.30
$0.71 MKD 37.33
66.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 zł 1.98
$0.55 MKD 29.07
-1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.21 zł 18.90
$3.20 MKD 168
62.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.95 zł 25.24
$7.53 MKD 395
-7.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 zł 4.56
$1.05 MKD 55.4
20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 zł 6.00
$1.58 MKD 82.7
4.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Bialystok
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 zł 4.02
$0.78 MKD 40.77
42.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 zł 128
$28.32 MKD 1,487
24.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.12 zł 7.69
$0.92 MKD 48.09
130.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 zł 1.77
$0.50 MKD 26.15
-2.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.01 zł 43.59
$7.32 MKD 384
64.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 zł 6.14
$1.54 MKD 80.7
9.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K zł 124.3K
$34.4K MKD 1.8M
-0.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K zł 105.2K
$30.0K MKD 1.6M
-3.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bialystok
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$313 zł 1,134
$160 MKD 8,423
94.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.27 zł 30.03
$18.02 MKD 947
-54.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.02 zł 61.8
$19.00 MKD 998
-10.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bialystok
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.54 zł 136
$39.49 MKD 2,074
-4.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.80 zł 68.2
$17.78 MKD 934
5.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.90 zł 25.05
$6.38 MKD 335
8.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bialystok
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$336 zł 1,221
$322 MKD 16.9K
4.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,522 zł 34.6K
$4,517 MKD 237.2K
110.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bialystok
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 zł 332
$78.5 MKD 4,120
16.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.04 zł 113
$39.91 MKD 2,096
-22.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 zł 273
$101 MKD 5,306
-25.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.6 zł 340
$110 MKD 5,790
-15.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bialystok
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$541 zł 1,965
$423 MKD 22.2K
27.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$490 zł 1,778
$311 MKD 16.3K
57.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$862 zł 3,127
$626 MKD 32.9K
37.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 zł 2,625
$465 MKD 24.4K
55.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,887 zł 10.5K
$2,841 MKD 149.2K
1.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,516 zł 9,133
$1,883 MKD 98.9K
33.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bialystok
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,513 zł 5,492
$888 MKD 46.6K
70.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.47
4.54
42.51%

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

Last update for Bialystok: April 27, 2026

Last update for Skopje: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $541 in Bialystok versus $423 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 70% higher in Bialystok, 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 $47.00 in Bialystok versus $34.00 in Skopje. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Bialystok vs $213 in Skopje – so Bialystok wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Bialystok vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bialystok or Skopje?
Bialystok costs about 34% more than Skopje, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bialystok vs Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Bialystok and $1,625 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bialystok or Skopje?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Skopje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Bialystok and Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $336 per month in Bialystok and $322 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bialystok or Skopje?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Bialystok – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bialystok or Skopje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,083, than in Bialystok at $1,447. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bialystok it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bialystok or Skopje?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skopje costs $1,083 versus $1,447 in Bialystok. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bialystok compared to Skopje?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Bialystok or Skopje?
If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bialystok makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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