Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Cartagena vs $1,182 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,096 per month in Cartagena vs $1,723 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,934 per month in Cartagena vs $2,263 in Skopje, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 6% more than Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cartagena and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 9% lower, Skopje 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 COP 15.9K

$9.68 MKD 511

-46.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$137 COP 420.4K

$34.37 MKD 1,816

297.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 COP 31.0K

$6.65 MKD 351

51.43%

Cappuccino

$3.65 COP 11.2K

$2.23 MKD 118

63.68%

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

$1.87 COP 5,762

$1.86 MKD 98.5

0.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 COP 5,823

$1.28 MKD 67.6

47.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 COP 5,995

$2.81 MKD 148

-30.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 COP 14.6K

$3.25 MKD 172

46.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 COP 5,947

$1.33 MKD 70.4

45.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 COP 9,041

$0.78 MKD 41.46

276.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 COP 4,426

$1.94 MKD 102

-25.77%

Eggs

$4.97 COP 15.3K

$2.47 MKD 131

101.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.52 COP 41.6K

$8.73 MKD 461

54.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.48 COP 53.8K

$7.49 MKD 396

133.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.07 MKD 796

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 MKD 80.7

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MKD 79.0

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 MKD 73.0

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MKD 110

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 MKD 48.78

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 44.24

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 MKD 32.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 COP 6,340

$0.57 MKD 30.31

261.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.63 MKD 192

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 COP 45.0K

$7.37 MKD 389

98.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 COP 4,370

$1.09 MKD 57.5

30.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 MKD 82.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 COP 3,734

$0.80 MKD 42.10

51.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.9 COP 181.2K

$28.14 MKD 1,487

109.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 COP 14.8K

$1.11 MKD 58.4

334.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.88 COP 11.9K

$0.68 MKD 35.75

470.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.46 COP 29.1K

$7.98 MKD 422

18.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 COP 4,048

$1.54 MKD 81.2

-14.29%

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

$24.0K COP 73.8M

$37.0K MKD 2.0M

-35.22%

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

$35.0K COP 107.8M

$28.4K MKD 1.5M

23.37%

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

$79.9 COP 245.9K

$168 MKD 8,854

-52.33%

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

$19.55 MKD 1,033

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.73 MKD 1,042

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.7 COP 279.0K

$38.05 MKD 2,010

138.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.83 MKD 942

Cinema Ticket

$8.28 COP 25.5K

$7.13 MKD 377

16.13%

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

$646 COP 2.0M

$389 MKD 20.5K

66.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,928 COP 18.2M

$5,501 MKD 290.6K

7.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 MKD 4,837

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.71 MKD 2,098

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MKD 5,629

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,023

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 COP 3.3M

$443 MKD 23.4K

138.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 COP 1.8M

$339 MKD 17.9K

73.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 COP 7.2M

$750 MKD 39.6K

211.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 COP 3.0M

$535 MKD 28.3K

82.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,778 MKD 146.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$945 COP 2.9M

$1,892 MKD 99.9K

-50.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$476 COP 1.5M

$906 MKD 47.9K

-47.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

252.94%

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

Last update for Cartagena: September 7, 2026

Last update for Skopje: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,058 in Cartagena versus $443 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 90% higher in Skopje, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $137 in Cartagena versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $217 – making Skopje 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

Cartagena vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 6% more than Skopje, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,888 per month in Cartagena and $1,774 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $646 per month in Cartagena and $389 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Cartagena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,182, than in Cartagena at $1,259. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skopje costs $1,182 versus $1,259 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.