🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,076 in Cuernavaca versus $1,182 in Skopje.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,819 in Cuernavaca versus $1,723 in Skopje.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,562 in Cuernavaca versus $2,263 in Skopje.
🌍Living in Cuernavaca costs roughly 9% less than in Skopje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cuernavaca22% lower, Skopje14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.69MX$147
$9.68MKD 511
-10.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.14MX$698
$34.37MKD 1,816
19.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50MX$127
$6.65MKD 351
12.78%
Cappuccino
$2.67MX$45.36
$2.23MKD 118
19.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.22
$1.86MKD 98.5
-23.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68MX$11.53
$1.28MKD 67.6
-46.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.69MX$45.66
$2.81MKD 148
-4.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51MX$59.6
$3.25MKD 172
8.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.35
$1.33MKD 70.4
39.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.48MX$42.03
$0.78MKD 41.46
217.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.41
$1.94MKD 102
-19.59%
Eggs
$2.18MX$37.00
$2.47MKD 131
-11.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.61MX$146
$8.73MKD 461
-1.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.18MX$87.8
$7.49MKD 396
-30.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.47MX$245
$15.07MKD 796
-3.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43MX$41.17
$1.53MKD 80.7
58.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MX$24.64
$1.50MKD 79.0
-3.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.43MX$41.27
$1.38MKD 73.0
76.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.42
$2.08MKD 110
-13.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.59
$0.92MKD 48.78
108.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.77
$0.84MKD 44.24
122.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63MX$27.66
$0.62MKD 32.51
162.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96MX$16.37
$0.57MKD 30.31
68.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.82MX$81.8
$3.63MKD 192
32.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.07MX$154
$7.37MKD 389
23.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.68
$1.09MKD 57.5
22.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50MX$59.4
$1.56MKD 82.3
124.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$0.80MKD 42.10
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.80MX$506
$28.14MKD 1,487
5.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.11MX$35.85
$1.11MKD 58.4
90.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.77MX$47.00
$0.68MKD 35.75
307.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.62MX$197
$7.98MKD 422
45.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MX$24.73
$1.54MKD 81.2
-5.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KMX$383.5K
$37.0KMKD 2.0M
-38.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KMX$431.3K
$28.4KMKD 1.5M
-10.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.4MX$1,092
$168MKD 8,854
-61.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.57MX$332
$19.55MKD 1,033
0.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.46MX$466
$19.73MKD 1,042
39.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.38MX$481
$38.05MKD 2,010
-25.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.83MKD 942
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.02MX$102
$7.13MKD 377
-15.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234MX$3,966
$389MKD 20.5K
-39.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,418MX$91.9K
$5,501MKD 290.6K
-1.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.69MX$741
$91.6MKD 4,837
-52.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.87MX$592
$39.71MKD 2,098
-12.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101MX$1,717
$107MKD 5,629
-5.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104MX$1,768
$114MKD 6,023
-8.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$421MX$7,136
$443MKD 23.4K
-5.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$354MX$6,012
$339MKD 17.9K
4.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,008MX$17.1K
$750MKD 39.6K
34.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$862MX$14.6K
$535MKD 28.3K
61.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$957MX$16.2K
$2,778MKD 146.8K
-65.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$652MX$11.1K
$1,892MKD 99.9K
-65.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$709MX$12.0K
$906MKD 47.9K
-21.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.4
4.25
168.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cuernavaca: September 6, 2026
Last update for Skopje: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $421 in Cuernavaca and $443 in Skopje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skopje pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Cuernavaca vs $34.00 in Skopje for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $217 per month, with Skopje cheaper across the board.
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
Cuernavaca vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skopje cheaper than Cuernavaca?
Cuernavaca is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cuernavaca or Skopje?
On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Skopje. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cuernavaca and Skopje?
Rent for a central apartment: $421 in Cuernavaca versus $443 in Skopje. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cuernavaca and in Skopje?
Shoppers in Skopje pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Cuernavaca or in Skopje?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuernavaca – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $34.00 in Skopje. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cuernavaca or in Skopje?
At $1,076 in Cuernavaca versus $1,182 in Skopje, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuernavaca but tight or insufficient in Skopje. The gap between the two cities makes Cuernavaca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cuernavaca or Skopje more family-friendly?
For families, Cuernavaca is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Skopje, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cuernavaca or Skopje?
Safety-wise, Cuernavaca and Skopje are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuernavaca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Skopje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cuernavaca vs other spots: cost of living compared