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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $989 per month in Calarasi vs $1,112 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,477 per month in Calarasi vs $1,621 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,964 per month in Calarasi vs $2,130 in Skopje, rent included.

Calarasi is about 11% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Calarasi and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi 26% lower, Skopje 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.06 RON 45.46

$7.57 MKD 399

32.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.26 RON 123

$34.02 MKD 1,793

-19.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 RON 34.86

$6.65 MKD 350

15.94%

Cappuccino

$2.65 RON 11.97

$2.19 MKD 115

21.00%

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

$1.53 RON 6.92

$1.94 MKD 102

-21.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 RON 8.11

$1.28 MKD 67.5

39.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 RON 10.12

$2.70 MKD 142

-17.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 RON 15.91

$3.47 MKD 183

1.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 RON 6.08

$1.34 MKD 70.7

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 RON 4.91

$0.82 MKD 43.38

32.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 RON 7.98

$1.75 MKD 92.4

1.14%

Eggs

$3.40 RON 15.35

$2.19 MKD 115

55.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.50 RON 38.41

$9.22 MKD 486

-7.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 RON 32.20

$7.99 MKD 421

-10.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.15 RON 41.35

$13.63 MKD 719

-32.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 RON 5.31

$1.01 MKD 53.4

16.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 RON 6.66

$1.41 MKD 74.5

4.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 RON 6.02

$1.32 MKD 69.6

0.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 RON 8.62

$2.17 MKD 115

-11.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 RON 3.37

$0.88 MKD 46.57

-14.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 RON 4.31

$0.92 MKD 48.53

3.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 RON 3.20

$0.71 MKD 37.43

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RON 3.62

$0.58 MKD 30.60

37.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 RON 25.79

$3.15 MKD 166

81.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.48 RON 20.27

$7.41 MKD 391

-39.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 RON 4.45

$1.06 MKD 55.9

-7.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 RON 6.42

$1.51 MKD 79.8

-5.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 RON 2.03

$0.77 MKD 40.44

-41.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.09 RON 63.7

$27.67 MKD 1,458

-49.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.03

$0.98 MKD 51.5

-31.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 RON 2.97

$0.49 MKD 25.61

34.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 RON 25.39

$7.60 MKD 400

-26.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 RON 6.98

$1.47 MKD 77.3

4.76%

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

$25.4K RON 114.7K

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

-25.45%

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

$27.4K RON 123.9K

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

-7.38%

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

$148 RON 669

$160 MKD 8,446

-7.71%

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

$8.65 RON 39.09

$18.34 MKD 966

-52.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.62 RON 34.44

$19.13 MKD 1,008

-60.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.6 RON 310

$38.37 MKD 2,022

78.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.52 RON 88.2

$17.56 MKD 925

11.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 RON 26.77

$6.72 MKD 354

-11.90%

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

$424 RON 1,915

$312 MKD 16.5K

35.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,966 RON 31.5K

$4,509 MKD 237.6K

54.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 RON 367

$77.2 MKD 4,067

5.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 RON 194

$40.43 MKD 2,131

5.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 RON 342

$100 MKD 5,275

-24.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.8 RON 437

$110 MKD 5,810

-12.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 RON 1,768

$429 MKD 22.6K

-8.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 RON 1,032

$310 MKD 16.3K

-26.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 RON 2,709

$645 MKD 34.0K

-7.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 RON 1,666

$459 MKD 24.2K

-19.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,236 RON 5,587

$2,801 MKD 147.6K

-55.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$986 RON 4,458

$1,829 MKD 96.4K

-46.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 RON 3,495

$913 MKD 48.1K

-15.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

4.54

45.81%

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

Last update for Calarasi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 in Calarasi versus $429 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 18% 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: $196 vs $213 – 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: $989 in Calarasi, $1,112 in Skopje – roughly 12% apart. Skopje costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,484 per month in Calarasi and $1,667 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 $424 per month in Calarasi and $312 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $989, than in Skopje at $1,112. 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 $989 in Calarasi to $1,112 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.