For one person, living is cheaper in India: $400 a month against $930 in North Macedonia, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
How much you'll spend in India and in North Macedonia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in India and in North Macedonia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $400 in India versus $930 in North Macedonia.
India $400
North Macedonia $930
Estimated couple costs with rent: $638 in India versus $1,383 in North Macedonia.
India $638
North Macedonia $1,383
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $877 in India versus $1,836 in North Macedonia.
India $877
North Macedonia $1,836
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $244 to $811, compared to $731–$1,074 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in India.
🌍
Living in India costs about 57% less than in North Macedonia on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: India 70% lower, North Macedonia 31% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
North Macedonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.16₹203
$7.13MKD 388
-69.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.70₹1,004
$26.99MKD 1,470
-60.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.64₹342
$5.41MKD 295
-32.72%
Cappuccino
$1.75₹164
$1.69MKD 92.3
3.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₹39.43
$1.61MKD 87.8
-73.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.09
$1.23MKD 66.8
-87.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹175
$2.24MKD 122
-16.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13₹294
$2.77MKD 151
13.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
North Macedonia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.65₹60.8
$1.31MKD 71.2
-50.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46₹42.96
$0.72MKD 39.18
-36.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.64₹60.2
$1.59MKD 86.8
-59.75%
Eggs
$0.95₹89.1
$2.21MKD 121
-57.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.87₹457
$7.86MKD 428
-38.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.82₹265
$6.54MKD 357
-56.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$12.20MKD 664
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.92₹180
$1.16MKD 63.0
65.52%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63₹59.5
$1.45MKD 78.9
-56.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99₹92.7
$1.33MKD 72.6
-25.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48₹44.89
$1.82MKD 99.3
-73.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33₹31.23
$0.88MKD 47.93
-62.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹39.79
$1.01MKD 54.9
-58.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46₹43.32
$0.62MKD 34.02
-25.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.21
$0.55MKD 29.83
-43.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.17₹485
$3.30MKD 180
56.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.56₹710
$5.50MKD 299
37.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65₹155
$1.01MKD 55.2
63.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66₹250
$1.36MKD 74.2
95.59%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.24₹492
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
North Macedonia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹22.51
$0.76MKD 41.14
-68.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.23₹773
$25.85MKD 1,408
-68.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96₹90.1
$1.28MKD 69.9
-25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₹23.47
$0.71MKD 38.86
-64.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹144
$7.44MKD 405
-79.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₹106
$1.46MKD 79.4
-22.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.1K₹1.0M
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
-67.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₹1.9M
$27.9KMKD 1.5M
-27.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
North Macedonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.08₹3,576
$144MKD 7,867
-73.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.53₹331
$17.18MKD 936
-79.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.95₹652
$16.96MKD 924
-59.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
North Macedonia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.43₹1,449
$27.09MKD 1,476
-43.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.09₹666
$14.74MKD 803
-51.90%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₹294
$6.53MKD 356
-52.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
North Macedonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.1₹5,452
$286MKD 15.6K
-79.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,158₹296.6K
$7,525MKD 410.0K
-58.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
North Macedonia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.69₹2,130
$66.4MKD 3,618
-65.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.44₹2,295
$37.55MKD 2,045
-34.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.02₹3,759
$86.6MKD 4,720
-53.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.67₹2,787
$101MKD 5,503
-70.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
North Macedonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$145₹13.7K
$297MKD 16.2K
-51.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.8₹9,093
$235MKD 12.8K
-58.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$339₹31.8K
$538MKD 29.3K
-37.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231₹21.7K
$360MKD 19.6K
-35.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,142₹107.3K
$1,888MKD 102.9K
-39.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹59.4K
$1,309MKD 71.3K
-51.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
North Macedonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$407₹38.2K
$736MKD 40.1K
-44.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.94
4.69
90.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: November 1, 2026
Last update for North Macedonia: November 2, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.5%
North Macedonia
$190 20.4% ↑ 86.2%$88
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$97 24.2%
North Macedonia
$235 25.2% ↑ 142%$138
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.8%
North Macedonia
$122 13.1% ↑ 81.3%$55
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.1%
North Macedonia
$131 14.1% ↑ 150%$79
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$49 12.1%
North Macedonia
$179 19.2% ↑ 268%$130
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$22 5.4%
North Macedonia
$40 4.3% ↑ 85%$18
🚌Getting Around
India
$11 2.9%
North Macedonia
$34 3.6% ↑ 196%$22
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$219 25%
North Macedonia
$448 24.4% ↑ 104%$229
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$231 26.4%
North Macedonia
$360 19.6% ↑ 55.7%$129
🍽Eating Out
India
$183 20.9%
North Macedonia
$377 20.5% ↑ 106%$194
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$117 13.3%
North Macedonia
$292 15.9% ↑ 150%$175
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$52 5.9%
North Macedonia
$196 10.7% ↑ 276%$144
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.8%
North Macedonia
$95 5.2% ↑ 88.2%$45
🚌Getting Around
India
$23 2.7%
North Macedonia
$69 3.8% ↑ 196%$46
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $121 in India, $273 in North Macedonia. Capital cities: $278 in Delhi vs $382 in Skopje.
💰National salary averages: $405 in India, $640 in North Macedonia. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 126% higher in North Macedonia.
⭐Dining out costs 145% more in North Macedonia.
⭐Public transport is 200% more expensive in North Macedonia.
⭐Salaries are 58% higher in North Macedonia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
India vs North Macedonia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and North Macedonia?
At $400 per month in India and $930 in North Macedonia, India comes out about 57% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $273 in North Macedonia and $121 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in North Macedonia?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in North Macedonia it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to North Macedonia?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.