🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $994 in Cuernavaca versus $1,094 in Skopje.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,697 in Cuernavaca versus $1,636 in Skopje.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,399 in Cuernavaca versus $2,178 in Skopje.
🌍Living in Cuernavaca costs roughly 9% less than in Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cuernavaca25% lower, Skopje18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.86MX$172
$7.42MKD 399
32.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.73MX$658
$33.79MKD 1,817
11.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.00MX$122
$6.65MKD 357
5.26%
Cappuccino
$2.34MX$40.90
$2.24MKD 120
4.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32MX$22.98
$2.04MKD 110
-35.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74MX$12.83
$1.29MKD 69.5
-42.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27MX$39.63
$2.60MKD 140
-12.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09MX$53.9
$3.43MKD 184
-9.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53MX$26.75
$1.27MKD 68.5
20.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78MX$31.01
$0.84MKD 45.08
111.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38MX$24.07
$1.69MKD 91.0
-18.34%
Eggs
$1.81MX$31.55
$2.17MKD 117
-16.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.16MX$142
$9.26MKD 498
-11.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.31MX$110
$8.00MKD 430
-21.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.15MX$229
$13.41MKD 721
-1.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11MX$36.88
$1.02MKD 55.0
106.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27MX$22.24
$1.37MKD 73.4
-7.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.29
$1.37MKD 73.5
27.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.27
$2.08MKD 112
-25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.30
$0.88MKD 47.21
103.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.64
$0.97MKD 51.9
92.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98MX$17.01
$0.73MKD 39.24
34.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72MX$12.56
$0.59MKD 31.62
22.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21MX$73.5
$3.26MKD 175
29.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.59MX$150
$7.56MKD 407
13.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14MX$19.93
$1.05MKD 56.7
8.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85MX$49.79
$1.55MKD 83.5
83.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.55
$0.77MKD 41.38
-28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.91MX$469
$28.16MKD 1,514
-4.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.87MX$32.68
$0.98MKD 52.6
90.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20MX$20.94
$0.53MKD 28.46
126.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.38MX$164
$7.71MKD 415
21.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23MX$21.41
$1.47MKD 79.1
-16.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4KMX$320.1K
$34.2KMKD 1.8M
-46.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KMX$363.4K
$29.4KMKD 1.6M
-29.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.4MX$1,053
$160MKD 8,582
-62.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.92MX$400
$17.94MKD 965
27.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.54MX$498
$19.42MKD 1,044
46.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.81MX$398
$38.64MKD 2,078
-40.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.71MX$274
$17.95MKD 965
-12.48%
Cinema Ticket
$5.15MX$89.8
$6.44MKD 346
-20.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$208MX$3,626
$312MKD 16.8K
-33.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,854MX$84.7K
$4,479MKD 240.8K
8.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$827
$76.2MKD 4,096
-37.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.16MX$700
$39.60MKD 2,129
1.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9MX$1,707
$100MKD 5,391
-2.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8MX$1,462
$111MKD 5,984
-24.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$371MX$6,477
$422MKD 22.7K
-11.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$317MX$5,533
$309MKD 16.6K
2.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$917MX$16.0K
$641MKD 34.5K
42.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$791MX$13.8K
$467MKD 25.1K
69.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$925MX$16.1K
$2,687MKD 144.5K
-65.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$644MX$11.2K
$1,745MKD 93.8K
-63.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuernavaca
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$681MX$11.9K
$882MKD 47.4K
-22.84%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Skopje: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Cuernavaca and $422 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: $38.00 in Cuernavaca vs $34.00 in Skopje for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $212 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, salaries run 30% 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: $371 in Cuernavaca versus $422 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 6% 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 $38.00 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 $994 in Cuernavaca versus $1,094 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