Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,137 per month in Iasi vs $1,112 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,720 per month in Iasi vs $1,621 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,303 per month in Iasi vs $2,130 in Skopje, rent included.

Iasi costs about 2% more than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Iasi and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Iasi 15% lower, Skopje 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.52 RON 47.59
$7.57 MKD 399
38.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4 RON 232
$34.02 MKD 1,791
51.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.73 RON 30.46
$6.65 MKD 350
1.20%
Cappuccino
$2.68 RON 12.13
$2.19 MKD 115
22.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 RON 9.39
$1.94 MKD 102
7.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 RON 7.88
$1.28 MKD 67.5
35.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.46 RON 11.12
$2.70 MKD 142
-8.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 RON 15.47
$3.47 MKD 183
-1.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 RON 6.33
$1.34 MKD 70.6
4.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 RON 5.51
$0.82 MKD 43.34
48.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 RON 8.45
$1.75 MKD 92.4
6.86%
Eggs
$3.21 RON 14.51
$2.19 MKD 115
46.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.95 RON 35.98
$9.22 MKD 485
-13.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.70 RON 30.32
$7.99 MKD 421
-16.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 RON 49.71
$13.63 MKD 718
-19.37%
Apples (1kg)
$1.24 RON 5.61
$1.01 MKD 53.3
22.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 RON 7.33
$1.41 MKD 74.4
14.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 RON 7.84
$1.32 MKD 69.6
31.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 RON 8.90
$2.17 MKD 114
-9.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 RON 4.48
$0.88 MKD 46.53
12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 RON 4.73
$0.92 MKD 48.49
14.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 RON 4.68
$0.71 MKD 37.39
46.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 RON 3.89
$0.58 MKD 30.57
48.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.37 RON 28.85
$3.15 MKD 166
102.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.61 RON 29.92
$7.41 MKD 390
-10.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 RON 4.95
$1.06 MKD 55.8
2.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 RON 8.96
$1.51 MKD 79.7
31.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 RON 3.84
$0.77 MKD 40.40
10.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.13 RON 123
$27.67 MKD 1,457
-1.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 RON 4.03
$0.98 MKD 51.4
-9.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 RON 3.16
$0.49 MKD 25.59
42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 RON 35.48
$7.60 MKD 400
3.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 RON 7.51
$1.47 MKD 77.3
12.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K RON 129.2K
$34.0K MKD 1.8M
-16.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K RON 123.7K
$29.6K MKD 1.6M
-7.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 RON 708
$160 MKD 8,438
-2.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.47 RON 38.35
$18.34 MKD 965
-53.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.21 RON 46.22
$19.13 MKD 1,007
-46.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.10 RON 213
$38.37 MKD 2,020
22.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 RON 82.6
$17.56 MKD 925
3.93%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17 RON 36.99
$6.72 MKD 354
21.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 RON 2,095
$312 MKD 16.4K
48.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,028 RON 31.8K
$4,509 MKD 237.4K
55.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.3 RON 282
$77.2 MKD 4,063
-19.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.79 RON 194
$40.43 MKD 2,129
5.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 RON 391
$100 MKD 5,270
-13.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 RON 393
$110 MKD 5,804
-21.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 RON 2,147
$429 MKD 22.6K
10.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 RON 1,635
$310 MKD 16.3K
16.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 RON 3,395
$645 MKD 34.0K
16.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$550 RON 2,491
$459 MKD 24.1K
20.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,076 RON 13.9K
$2,801 MKD 147.5K
9.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,997 RON 9,036
$1,829 MKD 96.3K
9.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,191 RON 5,389
$913 MKD 48.1K
30.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.37
4.54
62.33%

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

Last update for Iasi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Iasi versus $429 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 30% higher in Iasi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Iasi versus $34.00 in Skopje. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Iasi vs $213 in Skopje – so Iasi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Iasi vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Iasi and Skopje compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,137 in Iasi, $1,112 in Skopje – roughly 2% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Iasi compared to Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,706 per month in Iasi and $1,667 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Iasi and Skopje?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Iasi and Skopje?
Public transport costs about 2% less in Skopje. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Iasi and Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $463 per month in Iasi and $312 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,112, than in Iasi at $1,137. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Iasi and Skopje?
It depends on your priorities. Skopje has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,112 in Skopje to $1,137 in Iasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Iasi or Skopje 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 Iasi and Skopje?
If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iasi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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