Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,087 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,485 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,634 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,011 per month in Makhachkala vs $2,180 in Skopje, rent included.

Makhachkala is about 12% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makhachkala and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Makhachkala 28% lower, Skopje 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.57 ₽1,223

$7.58 MKD 407

105.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.54 ₽3,107

$33.45 MKD 1,796

18.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ₽409

$6.70 MKD 360

-22.39%

Cappuccino

$3.30 ₽259

$2.27 MKD 122

45.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽62.6

$2.03 MKD 109

-60.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₽27.76

$1.29 MKD 69.3

-72.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 ₽112

$2.66 MKD 143

-46.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₽196

$3.35 MKD 180

-25.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ₽118

$1.29 MKD 69.5

16.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₽51.2

$0.76 MKD 40.83

-14.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 ₽112

$1.67 MKD 89.7

-14.37%

Eggs

$1.37 ₽108

$2.21 MKD 119

-38.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.09 ₽243

$9.13 MKD 490

-66.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 ₽372

$7.78 MKD 418

-39.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.00 ₽393

$13.71 MKD 736

-63.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 ₽142

$1.06 MKD 57.1

70.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ₽132

$1.43 MKD 76.8

17.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 ₽216

$1.35 MKD 72.6

103.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₽143

$2.17 MKD 116

-16.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ₽65.2

$0.89 MKD 47.79

-6.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₽35.16

$0.90 MKD 48.49

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 ₽191

$0.69 MKD 36.95

252.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₽45.63

$0.55 MKD 29.72

5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 ₽247

$3.18 MKD 171

-1.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.82 ₽300

$7.26 MKD 390

-47.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₽81.4

$1.07 MKD 57.3

-2.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ₽153

$1.52 MKD 81.5

28.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₽31.36

$0.76 MKD 40.98

-47.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.58 MKD 1,534

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₽176

$0.96 MKD 51.6

133.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 ₽14.02

$0.48 MKD 26.03

-62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ₽511

$7.41 MKD 398

-12.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 ₽55.8

$1.49 MKD 79.7

-52.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K ₽2.8M

$33.7K MKD 1.8M

7.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.0K ₽2.4M

$29.3K MKD 1.6M

5.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$54.2 ₽4,257

$160 MKD 8,580

-66.10%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.31 ₽496

$18.05 MKD 969

-65.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.63 ₽757

$19.13 MKD 1,027

-49.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.00 ₽3,613

$38.66 MKD 2,075

18.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.36 MKD 932

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 ₽400

$6.62 MKD 356

-23.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$164 ₽12.9K

$320 MKD 17.2K

-48.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,965 ₽547.2K

$4,642 MKD 249.2K

50.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₽8,179

$77.5 MKD 4,160

34.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.22 ₽3,552

$40.16 MKD 2,156

12.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₽8,209

$100 MKD 5,368

4.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 ₽11.3K

$110 MKD 5,918

30.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₽39.0K

$425 MKD 22.8K

16.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ₽23.4K

$310 MKD 16.6K

-3.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 ₽56.6K

$645 MKD 34.6K

11.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ₽31.6K

$463 MKD 24.8K

-13.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,666 ₽130.9K

$2,731 MKD 146.6K

-38.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,210 ₽95.1K

$1,740 MKD 93.4K

-30.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$830 ₽65.2K

$886 MKD 47.6K

-6.33%

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 Makhachkala: July 14, 2026

Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $497 in Makhachkala versus $425 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 7% 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 $40.00 in Makhachkala versus $33.00 in Skopje. Groceries tell a different story – $157 in Makhachkala vs $210 in Skopje – so Makhachkala wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Makhachkala vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Skopje is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Makhachkala and $1,631 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $958 in Makhachkala and $1,087 in Skopje. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $164 per month in Makhachkala and $320 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $958, than in Skopje at $1,087. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. 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.