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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $988 per month in Calarasi vs $1,087 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,476 per month in Calarasi vs $1,634 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,965 per month in Calarasi vs $2,180 in Skopje, rent included.

Calarasi is about 9% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Calarasi and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi 26% lower, Skopje 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83 RON 44.87
$7.58 MKD 407
29.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.88 RON 127
$33.45 MKD 1,794
-16.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.98 RON 36.41
$6.70 MKD 359
19.10%
Cappuccino
$2.69 RON 12.28
$2.27 MKD 122
18.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 RON 6.98
$2.03 MKD 109
-24.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 RON 8.19
$1.29 MKD 69.2
38.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 RON 10.40
$2.66 MKD 143
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 RON 15.44
$3.35 MKD 180
0.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 RON 6.20
$1.29 MKD 69.4
5.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 RON 5.01
$0.76 MKD 40.80
44.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 RON 7.70
$1.67 MKD 89.6
1.20%
Eggs
$3.25 RON 14.85
$2.21 MKD 119
47.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.56 RON 39.10
$9.13 MKD 490
-6.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.94 RON 31.67
$7.78 MKD 417
-10.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.17 RON 41.84
$13.71 MKD 735
-33.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 RON 5.37
$1.06 MKD 57.1
11.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 RON 6.67
$1.43 MKD 76.8
2.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 RON 6.09
$1.35 MKD 72.5
-1.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 RON 9.06
$2.17 MKD 116
-8.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 RON 3.66
$0.89 MKD 47.75
-10.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 RON 4.35
$0.90 MKD 48.45
5.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 RON 3.24
$0.69 MKD 36.92
2.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 RON 3.67
$0.55 MKD 29.70
45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.69 RON 25.96
$3.18 MKD 170
78.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.32 RON 19.73
$7.26 MKD 389
-40.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 RON 4.08
$1.07 MKD 57.2
-16.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 RON 6.25
$1.52 MKD 81.5
-9.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 RON 2.03
$0.76 MKD 40.94
-42.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.57 RON 62.0
$28.58 MKD 1,533
-52.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 RON 3.25
$0.96 MKD 51.6
-26.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 RON 2.93
$0.48 MKD 26.01
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 RON 26.51
$7.41 MKD 397
-21.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 RON 7.28
$1.49 MKD 79.7
7.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K RON 112.8K
$33.7K MKD 1.8M
-26.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K RON 122.7K
$29.3K MKD 1.6M
-8.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 RON 677
$160 MKD 8,574
-7.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.24 RON 37.59
$18.05 MKD 968
-54.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.53 RON 34.38
$19.13 MKD 1,026
-60.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.8 RON 319
$38.66 MKD 2,074
80.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 RON 86.4
$17.36 MKD 931
8.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.01 RON 27.45
$6.62 MKD 355
-9.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 RON 1,979
$320 MKD 17.2K
35.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,908 RON 31.5K
$4,642 MKD 249.0K
48.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5 RON 377
$77.5 MKD 4,157
6.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.72 RON 195
$40.16 MKD 2,154
6.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 RON 344
$100 MKD 5,364
-24.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.8 RON 456
$110 MKD 5,913
-9.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$383 RON 1,746
$425 MKD 22.8K
-9.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$231 RON 1,054
$310 MKD 16.6K
-25.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$579 RON 2,644
$645 MKD 34.6K
-10.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$364 RON 1,663
$463 MKD 24.8K
-21.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 RON 5,662
$2,731 MKD 146.5K
-54.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$984 RON 4,493
$1,740 MKD 93.3K
-43.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$741 RON 3,381
$886 MKD 47.5K
-16.40%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $383 in Calarasi versus $425 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 20% 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 $28.00 in Calarasi versus $33.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $210 – 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
How do living costs in Calarasi and in Skopje compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $988 in Calarasi, $1,087 in Skopje – roughly 10% apart. Skopje costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Calarasi compared to Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,481 per month in Calarasi and $1,631 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Calarasi and Skopje?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Calarasi and Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $434 per month in Calarasi and $320 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $988, than in Skopje at $1,087. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Calarasi and Skopje?
It depends on your priorities. Skopje has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $988 in Calarasi to $1,087 in Skopje. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Calarasi or Skopje safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Calarasi and Skopje?
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.

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