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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $684 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,168 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,163 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,738 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,641 per month in Makhachkala vs $2,308 in Skopje, rent included.

Makhachkala is about 41% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makhachkala and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Makhachkala 50% lower, Skopje 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.61 ₽997

$9.46 MKD 499

22.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.70 ₽2,978

$33.97 MKD 1,793

2.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₽392

$6.73 MKD 355

-32.24%

Cappuccino

$2.68 ₽230

$2.13 MKD 113

25.82%

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

$0.73 ₽62.7

$1.88 MKD 99.1

-61.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₽27.54

$1.30 MKD 68.7

-75.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 MKD 146

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 MKD 166

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₽113

$1.29 MKD 68.1

2.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 ₽41.40

$0.82 MKD 43.13

-41.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₽100

$1.90 MKD 100

-38.42%

Eggs

$1.58 ₽135

$2.47 MKD 130

-36.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.36 ₽717

$8.81 MKD 465

-5.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.07 ₽521

$7.56 MKD 399

-19.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 ₽671

$15.11 MKD 797

-48.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₽104

$1.48 MKD 78.0

-18.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₽154

$1.50 MKD 79.1

19.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 ₽183

$1.38 MKD 72.7

55.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 ₽254

$2.06 MKD 109

43.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 ₽69.8

$0.88 MKD 46.31

-7.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₽35.33

$0.84 MKD 44.23

-51.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 MKD 34.17

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₽75.5

$0.58 MKD 30.81

51.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₽250

$3.66 MKD 193

-20.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.50 ₽301

$7.47 MKD 394

-53.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₽41.40

$1.04 MKD 55.1

-53.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 MKD 83.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₽30.49

$0.78 MKD 41.28

-53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.82 MKD 1,468

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 ₽197

$1.12 MKD 59.1

104.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 MKD 35.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 MKD 416

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 ₽65.4

$1.62 MKD 85.3

-53.09%

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

$32.0K ₽2.7M

$37.5K MKD 2.0M

-14.69%

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

$28.0K ₽2.4M

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

0.02%

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

$166 MKD 8,735

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

$19.14 MKD 1,010

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.69 MKD 1,039

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ₽4,584

$38.57 MKD 2,036

38.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.23 MKD 962

Cinema Ticket

$4.65 ₽399

$7.31 MKD 386

-36.39%

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

$208 ₽17.9K

$390 MKD 20.6K

-46.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,550 MKD 292.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.6 MKD 4,727

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 MKD 2,119

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MKD 5,671

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 MKD 6,142

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 ₽32.6K

$445 MKD 23.5K

-14.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 ₽24.5K

$336 MKD 17.8K

-15.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 ₽71.2K

$764 MKD 40.3K

8.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$648 ₽55.6K

$530 MKD 28.0K

22.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,494 ₽128.2K

$2,710 MKD 143.0K

-44.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,050 ₽90.1K

$1,869 MKD 98.6K

-43.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ₽51.0K

$896 MKD 47.3K

-33.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

323.53%

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

Last update for Makhachkala: August 31, 2026

Last update for Skopje: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Makhachkala versus $445 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 51% 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 $35.00 in Makhachkala versus $34.00 in Skopje. Groceries tell a different story – $171 in Makhachkala vs $218 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 71%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,026 per month in Makhachkala and $1,752 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 $684 in Makhachkala and $1,168 in Skopje. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $208 per month in Makhachkala and $390 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 $684, than in Skopje at $1,168. 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.