Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $901 per month in Calarasi vs $1,168 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,391 per month in Calarasi vs $1,738 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,881 per month in Calarasi vs $2,308 in Skopje, rent included.

Calarasi is about 23% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calarasi and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi 34% lower, Skopje 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 RON 34.63

$9.46 MKD 499

-19.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.04 RON 122

$33.97 MKD 1,793

-20.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 RON 36.62

$6.73 MKD 355

20.51%

Cappuccino

$2.14 RON 9.69

$2.13 MKD 113

0.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 RON 6.54

$1.88 MKD 99.1

-22.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 RON 8.23

$1.30 MKD 68.7

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 RON 4.84

$2.77 MKD 146

-61.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 RON 6.82

$3.15 MKD 166

-52.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 RON 7.20

$1.29 MKD 68.1

23.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 RON 4.26

$0.82 MKD 43.13

14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 RON 7.30

$1.90 MKD 100

-14.74%

Eggs

$2.99 RON 13.53

$2.47 MKD 130

21.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 RON 37.85

$8.81 MKD 465

-4.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 RON 19.47

$7.56 MKD 399

-42.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.58 RON 38.76

$15.11 MKD 797

-43.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 RON 5.16

$1.48 MKD 78.0

-22.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 RON 6.69

$1.50 MKD 79.1

-1.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 RON 5.95

$1.38 MKD 72.7

-4.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.13

$2.06 MKD 109

-23.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 RON 1.89

$0.88 MKD 46.31

-52.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 RON 2.91

$0.84 MKD 44.23

-23.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 RON 2.04

$0.65 MKD 34.17

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 RON 3.69

$0.58 MKD 30.81

41.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.73 RON 30.39

$3.66 MKD 193

83.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.32 RON 19.50

$7.47 MKD 394

-42.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 RON 4.67

$1.04 MKD 55.1

-0.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 RON 6.82

$1.58 MKD 83.5

-4.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 RON 2.04

$0.78 MKD 41.28

-42.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.12 RON 59.3

$27.82 MKD 1,468

-52.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.04

$1.12 MKD 59.1

-40.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 RON 2.89

$0.67 MKD 35.49

-4.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.78 RON 30.63

$7.89 MKD 416

-14.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 RON 7.93

$1.62 MKD 85.3

8.64%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K RON 134.2K

$37.5K MKD 2.0M

-20.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K RON 120.4K

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

-4.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$165 RON 746

$166 MKD 8,735

-0.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.77 RON 30.56

$19.14 MKD 1,010

-64.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.93 RON 31.29

$19.69 MKD 1,039

-64.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.67 RON 224

$38.57 MKD 2,036

28.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$55.7 RON 251

$18.23 MKD 962

205.27%

Cinema Ticket

$8.95 RON 40.43

$7.31 MKD 386

22.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$423 RON 1,909

$390 MKD 20.6K

8.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,032 RON 27.3K

$5,550 MKD 292.9K

8.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.0 RON 344

$89.6 MKD 4,727

-15.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.21 RON 100

$40.15 MKD 2,119

-44.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 RON 434

$107 MKD 5,671

-10.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.4 RON 449

$116 MKD 6,142

-14.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 RON 1,493

$445 MKD 23.5K

-25.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 RON 909

$336 MKD 17.8K

-40.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 RON 2,025

$764 MKD 40.3K

-41.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 RON 1,519

$530 MKD 28.0K

-36.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,240 RON 5,601

$2,710 MKD 143.0K

-54.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$969 RON 4,378

$1,869 MKD 98.6K

-48.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 RON 3,493

$896 MKD 47.3K

-13.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.85

4.25

84.71%

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

Last update for Calarasi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Skopje: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $330 in Calarasi versus $445 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 16% 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 $27.00 in Calarasi versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $218 – making Calarasi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Calarasi vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $901 in Calarasi, $1,168 in Skopje – roughly 30% apart. Skopje costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,352 per month in Calarasi and $1,752 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $423 per month in Calarasi and $390 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Skopje, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $901, than in Skopje at $1,168. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Skopje has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $901 in Calarasi to $1,168 in Skopje. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. 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.