🙂A single person spends $760 per month in Chengdu vs $826 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,228 per month in Chengdu vs $1,210 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,695 per month in Chengdu vs $1,594 in Kumanovo, rent included.
🙂Chengdu is about 8% cheaper than Kumanovo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Chengdu and Kumanovo are more affordable than the global median – Chengdu45% lower, Kumanovo40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chengdu
Kumanovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.91¥19.50
$6.60MKD 349
-55.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.30¥136
$28.34MKD 1,497
-28.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.19¥34.76
$6.82MKD 360
-23.90%
Cappuccino
$2.86¥19.14
$1.53MKD 80.7
86.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51¥3.38
$1.45MKD 76.5
-64.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28¥1.88
$1.12MKD 59.1
-75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52¥10.18
$1.58MKD 83.6
-3.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41¥16.16
$1.79MKD 94.5
34.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chengdu
Kumanovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75¥11.70
$1.28MKD 67.5
36.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.65¥11.05
$0.71MKD 37.65
132.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89¥5.97
$1.89MKD 99.7
-52.91%
Eggs
$1.61¥10.79
$2.44MKD 129
-34.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.44¥96.7
$8.53MKD 450
69.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.51¥23.50
$7.64MKD 403
-54.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.15¥74.7
$11.86MKD 627
-5.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87¥12.50
$1.02MKD 53.9
83.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26¥8.47
$1.43MKD 75.6
-11.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12¥7.48
$1.38MKD 73.1
-18.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21¥8.10
$1.86MKD 98.3
-34.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74¥4.97
$0.88MKD 46.48
-15.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74¥4.98
$0.89MKD 46.87
-16.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70¥4.68
$0.55MKD 28.88
27.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54¥3.65
$0.62MKD 32.86
-12.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.68¥24.66
$3.18MKD 168
15.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.47¥36.65
$7.57MKD 400
-27.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82¥5.52
$1.06MKD 55.8
-22.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51¥10.10
$1.09MKD 57.5
38.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Chengdu
Kumanovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46¥3.11
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.62¥165
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36¥9.10
$1.11MKD 58.5
22.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31¥2.08
$0.69MKD 36.32
-55.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.49¥30.10
$6.08MKD 321
-26.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22¥8.16
$1.47MKD 77.5
-17.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K¥127.1K
$36.3KMKD 1.9M
-47.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K¥113.8K
$28.1KMKD 1.5M
-39.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chengdu
Kumanovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.48¥271
$132MKD 6,963
-69.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.83¥65.9
$17.90MKD 946
-45.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.68¥84.9
$20.04MKD 1,059
-36.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chengdu
Kumanovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.24¥182
$28.55MKD 1,508
-4.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.32¥75.8
$19.16MKD 1,012
-40.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.87¥39.32
$5.51MKD 291
6.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chengdu
Kumanovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$414¥2,773
$380MKD 20.1K
8.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K¥101.0K
$5,636MKD 297.8K
167.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chengdu
Kumanovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.07¥195
$44.23MKD 2,337
-34.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.22¥202
$21.08MKD 1,114
43.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.7¥400
$85.9MKD 4,536
-30.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.1¥355
$49.42MKD 2,611
7.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chengdu
Kumanovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$494¥3,308
$247MKD 13.0K
100.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$263¥1,762
$200MKD 10.6K
31.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$853¥5,712
$443MKD 23.4K
92.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$557¥3,731
$251MKD 13.3K
121.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,753¥25.1K
$1,673MKD 88.4K
124.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,947¥13.0K
$1,474MKD 77.9K
32.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chengdu
Kumanovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,323¥8,859
$587MKD 31.0K
125.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.38
4
-15.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chengdu: September 7, 2026
Last update for Kumanovo: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $494 in Chengdu versus $247 in Kumanovo. 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 125% higher in Chengdu, 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 $20.00 in Chengdu versus $28.00 in Kumanovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $202 – making Chengdu 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
Chengdu vs Kumanovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chengdu and in Kumanovo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $760 in Chengdu, $826 in Kumanovo – roughly 9% apart. Kumanovo costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chengdu compared to Kumanovo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,140 per month in Chengdu and $1,239 in Kumanovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chengdu and Kumanovo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chengdu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chengdu and $28.00 in Kumanovo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Kumanovo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How far does $1,200 go in Chengdu compared to Kumanovo?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $760 in Chengdu and $826 in Kumanovo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Chengdu or Kumanovo?
Families tend to lean toward Chengdu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Chengdu or Kumanovo 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 Chengdu and Kumanovo?
If budget matters most, go with Chengdu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kumanovo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.