🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Cuernavaca versus $1,105 in Skopje.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,665 in Cuernavaca versus $1,631 in Skopje.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,329 in Cuernavaca versus $2,156 in Skopje.
🙂Living in Cuernavaca costs roughly 9% less than in Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cuernavaca26% lower, Skopje18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.41MX$164
$7.49MKD 397
25.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.50MX$636
$34.48MKD 1,830
5.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.95MX$121
$6.75MKD 358
2.96%
Cappuccino
$2.25MX$39.27
$2.30MKD 122
-2.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30MX$22.58
$2.01MKD 106
-35.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78MX$13.54
$1.29MKD 68.3
-39.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31MX$40.25
$2.60MKD 138
-11.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09MX$53.8
$3.30MKD 175
-6.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.94
$1.34MKD 71.0
15.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72MX$30.03
$0.77MKD 41.09
123.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34MX$23.37
$1.68MKD 89.2
-20.24%
Eggs
$1.86MX$32.46
$2.19MKD 116
-15.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.11MX$141
$9.35MKD 496
-13.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.21MX$108
$7.76MKD 412
-19.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05MX$227
$13.48MKD 715
-3.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.14MX$37.28
$1.07MKD 56.7
100.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33MX$23.20
$1.42MKD 75.3
-6.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.81
$1.38MKD 73.2
23.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.23
$2.08MKD 110
-25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.21
$0.88MKD 46.94
96.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.85
$0.93MKD 49.41
103.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96MX$16.73
$0.69MKD 36.58
39.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77MX$13.46
$0.56MKD 29.71
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.5
$3.10MKD 164
32.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.47MX$147
$7.29MKD 387
16.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.48
$1.11MKD 59.0
0.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89MX$50.3
$1.52MKD 80.6
90.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$0.78MKD 41.46
-29.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25MX$457
$28.09MKD 1,491
-6.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88MX$32.83
$0.96MKD 51.1
95.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24MX$21.61
$0.50MKD 26.27
148.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.47MX$165
$7.68MKD 407
23.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.20
$1.49MKD 78.8
-14.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$325.7K
$33.4KMKD 1.8M
-44.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KMX$360.5K
$29.1KMKD 1.5M
-28.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.5MX$1,054
$159MKD 8,449
-62.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.55MX$393
$18.34MKD 973
22.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.25MX$492
$19.12MKD 1,015
47.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.93MX$400
$39.05MKD 2,072
-41.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.70MX$274
$17.56MKD 932
-10.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.43MX$94.5
$6.47MKD 343
-16.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$212MX$3,689
$321MKD 17.0K
-33.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,925MX$85.8K
$4,590MKD 243.5K
7.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.01MX$836
$78.4MKD 4,161
-38.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.50MX$688
$39.02MKD 2,070
1.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MX$1,747
$100MKD 5,328
-0.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0MX$1,429
$113MKD 5,970
-27.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380MX$6,626
$429MKD 22.7K
-11.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$312MX$5,434
$313MKD 16.6K
-0.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$899MX$15.7K
$645MKD 34.2K
39.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$773MX$13.5K
$455MKD 24.1K
69.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$903MX$15.7K
$2,768MKD 146.9K
-67.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$632MX$11.0K
$1,796MKD 95.3K
-64.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$679MX$11.8K
$880MKD 46.7K
-22.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.33
4.54
149.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cuernavaca: June 8, 2026
Last update for Skopje: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Cuernavaca and $429 in Skopje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skopje pays 30% 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: $36.00 in Cuernavaca vs $34.00 in Skopje for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $224 vs $211 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 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, Skopje earns 30% less. 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: $380 in Cuernavaca versus $429 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 Skopje?
Shoppers in Skopje pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Cuernavaca or Skopje?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuernavaca – a meal for two runs $36.00 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 Cuernavaca or Skopje?
At $1,000 in Cuernavaca versus $1,105 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