🙂A single person spends $815 per month in Kumanovo vs $1,143 in Skopje, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,181 per month in Kumanovo vs $1,720 in Skopje, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,547 per month in Kumanovo vs $2,296 in Skopje, rent included.
🙂Kumanovo is about 29% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Kumanovo and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Kumanovo40% lower, Skopje16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumanovo
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71MKD 357
$9.35MKD 497
-28.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.61MKD 1,522
$35.06MKD 1,864
-18.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.81MKD 362
$6.78MKD 360
0.44%
Cappuccino
$1.51MKD 80.1
$2.18MKD 116
-30.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MKD 75.8
$1.90MKD 101
-25.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10MKD 58.2
$1.36MKD 72.5
-19.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58MKD 84.3
$2.76MKD 147
-42.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MKD 93.2
$3.35MKD 178
-47.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumanovo
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26MKD 67.2
$1.26MKD 67.2
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.75
$0.81MKD 43.24
-12.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MKD 102
$1.89MKD 101
1.06%
Eggs
$2.42MKD 129
$2.52MKD 134
-3.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.59MKD 457
$8.49MKD 452
1.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.62MKD 405
$7.38MKD 393
3.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.84MKD 630
$15.17MKD 807
-21.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01MKD 53.6
$1.47MKD 78.1
-31.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MKD 73.9
$1.42MKD 75.3
-2.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MKD 71.8
$1.35MKD 71.6
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.78MKD 94.7
$2.10MKD 112
-15.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84MKD 44.81
$0.85MKD 45.28
-1.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MKD 42.65
$0.81MKD 43.02
-1.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55MKD 28.99
$0.64MKD 33.94
-14.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MKD 31.10
$0.61MKD 32.55
-4.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06MKD 163
$3.47MKD 184
-11.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.66MKD 407
$7.33MKD 390
4.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MKD 55.2
$1.06MKD 56.2
-1.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03MKD 55.0
$1.52MKD 81.0
-32.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumanovo
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.77MKD 40.88
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.58MKD 1,520
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11MKD 59.1
$1.15MKD 61.0
-3.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63MKD 33.36
$0.62MKD 33.22
1.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.00MKD 319
$7.97MKD 424
-24.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42MKD 75.5
$1.59MKD 84.3
-10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KMKD 1.9M
$36.7KMKD 1.9M
-1.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8KMKD 1.5M
$28.4KMKD 1.5M
1.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumanovo
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132MKD 7,008
$160MKD 8,502
-17.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.20MKD 914
$18.86MKD 1,003
-8.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.59MKD 1,042
$19.61MKD 1,043
-0.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumanovo
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.45MKD 1,513
$36.62MKD 1,947
-22.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47MKD 982
$17.67MKD 940
4.53%
Cinema Ticket
$5.55MKD 295
$7.73MKD 411
-28.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumanovo
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$369MKD 19.6K
$364MKD 19.4K
1.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,807MKD 308.8K
$5,701MKD 303.2K
1.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumanovo
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.36MKD 2,359
$88.4MKD 4,702
-49.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.66MKD 1,099
$38.29MKD 2,036
-46.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0MKD 4,518
$107MKD 5,690
-20.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.8MKD 2,701
$119MKD 6,307
-57.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumanovo
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$248MKD 13.2K
$439MKD 23.3K
-43.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$202MKD 10.7K
$332MKD 17.7K
-39.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435MKD 23.2K
$763MKD 40.6K
-42.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248MKD 13.2K
$522MKD 27.8K
-52.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,641MKD 87.2K
$2,748MKD 146.1K
-40.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,488MKD 79.1K
$1,838MKD 97.7K
-19.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumanovo
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$570MKD 30.3K
$920MKD 48.9K
-38.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
4.23
-5.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kumanovo: September 13, 2026
Last update for Skopje: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Kumanovo versus $439 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 61% higher in Skopje, 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 $29.00 in Kumanovo versus $35.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $215 – making Kumanovo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Kumanovo vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kumanovo and in Skopje compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $815 in Kumanovo, $1,143 in Skopje – roughly 40% apart. Skopje costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kumanovo compared to Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,223 per month in Kumanovo and $1,715 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kumanovo and Skopje?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kumanovo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kumanovo or Skopje?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $815 in Kumanovo and $1,143 in Skopje. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kumanovo and Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $369 per month in Kumanovo and $364 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 $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kumanovo, where all-in costs run around $815, than in Skopje at $1,143. In Kumanovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kumanovo and Skopje?
It depends on your priorities. Skopje has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $815 in Kumanovo to $1,143 in Skopje. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kumanovo 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 Kumanovo and Skopje?
If budget matters most, go with Kumanovo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skopje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.