🙂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 – Calarasi26% lower, Skopje19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83RON 44.87
$7.58MKD 407
29.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.88RON 127
$33.45MKD 1,794
-16.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.98RON 36.41
$6.70MKD 359
19.10%
Cappuccino
$2.69RON 12.28
$2.27MKD 122
18.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53RON 6.98
$2.03MKD 109
-24.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79RON 8.19
$1.29MKD 69.2
38.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28RON 10.40
$2.66MKD 143
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38RON 15.44
$3.35MKD 180
0.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36RON 6.20
$1.29MKD 69.4
5.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10RON 5.01
$0.76MKD 40.80
44.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69RON 7.70
$1.67MKD 89.6
1.20%
Eggs
$3.25RON 14.85
$2.21MKD 119
47.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.56RON 39.10
$9.13MKD 490
-6.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.94RON 31.67
$7.78MKD 417
-10.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.17RON 41.84
$13.71MKD 735
-33.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18RON 5.37
$1.06MKD 57.1
11.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46RON 6.67
$1.43MKD 76.8
2.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33RON 6.09
$1.35MKD 72.5
-1.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98RON 9.06
$2.17MKD 116
-8.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80RON 3.66
$0.89MKD 47.75
-10.11%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95RON 4.35
$0.90MKD 48.45
5.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71RON 3.24
$0.69MKD 36.92
2.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80RON 3.67
$0.55MKD 29.70
45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.69RON 25.96
$3.18MKD 170
78.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.32RON 19.73
$7.26MKD 389
-40.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89RON 4.08
$1.07MKD 57.2
-16.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37RON 6.25
$1.52MKD 81.5
-9.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44RON 2.03
$0.76MKD 40.94
-42.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.57RON 62.0
$28.58MKD 1,533
-52.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71RON 3.25
$0.96MKD 51.6
-26.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64RON 2.93
$0.48MKD 26.01
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81RON 26.51
$7.41MKD 397
-21.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 7.28
$1.49MKD 79.7
7.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRON 112.8K
$33.7KMKD 1.8M
-26.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KRON 122.7K
$29.3KMKD 1.6M
-8.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148RON 677
$160MKD 8,574
-7.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.24RON 37.59
$18.05MKD 968
-54.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.53RON 34.38
$19.13MKD 1,026
-60.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.8RON 319
$38.66MKD 2,074
80.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92RON 86.4
$17.36MKD 931
8.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.01RON 27.45
$6.62MKD 355
-9.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$434RON 1,979
$320MKD 17.2K
35.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,908RON 31.5K
$4,642MKD 249.0K
48.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5RON 377
$77.5MKD 4,157
6.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.72RON 195
$40.16MKD 2,154
6.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5RON 344
$100MKD 5,364
-24.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.8RON 456
$110MKD 5,913
-9.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$383RON 1,746
$425MKD 22.8K
-9.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231RON 1,054
$310MKD 16.6K
-25.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579RON 2,644
$645MKD 34.6K
-10.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$364RON 1,663
$463MKD 24.8K
-21.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,240RON 5,662
$2,731MKD 146.5K
-54.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$984RON 4,493
$1,740MKD 93.3K
-43.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calarasi
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$741RON 3,381
$886MKD 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.