🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Maracaibo versus $1,112 in Skopje.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,244 in Maracaibo versus $1,621 in Skopje.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,754 in Maracaibo versus $2,130 in Skopje.
🙂Living in Maracaibo costs roughly 34% less than in Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo45% lower, Skopje17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.37VES 5,777
$7.57MKD 399
36.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.97VES 22.3K
$34.02MKD 1,793
17.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.82VES 4,915
$6.65MKD 350
32.63%
Cappuccino
$2.65VES 1,476
$2.19MKD 115
21.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20VES 671
$1.94MKD 102
-38.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30VES 724
$1.28MKD 67.5
1.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32VES 1,290
$2.70MKD 142
-14.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95VES 1,643
$3.47MKD 183
-14.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79VES 996
$1.34MKD 70.7
33.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.94VES 1,080
$0.82MKD 43.38
136.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.09VES 607
$1.75MKD 92.4
-37.71%
Eggs
$3.19VES 1,775
$2.19MKD 115
45.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.95VES 3,318
$9.22MKD 486
-35.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.39VES 3,003
$7.99MKD 421
-32.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.08VES 3,386
$13.63MKD 719
-55.39%
Apples(1kg)
$4.51VES 2,513
$1.01MKD 53.4
346.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38VES 769
$1.41MKD 74.5
-2.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71VES 954
$1.32MKD 69.6
29.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47VES 820
$2.17MKD 115
-32.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16VES 649
$0.88MKD 46.57
31.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62VES 905
$0.92MKD 48.53
76.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01VES 564
$0.71MKD 37.43
42.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60VES 889
$0.58MKD 30.60
175.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43VES 1,914
$3.15MKD 166
8.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.97VES 4,997
$7.41MKD 391
21.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06VES 591
$1.06MKD 55.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64VES 1,473
$1.51MKD 79.8
74.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51VES 287
$0.77MKD 40.44
-33.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.83VES 23.3K
$27.67MKD 1,458
51.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.11VES 2,290
$0.98MKD 51.5
319.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95VES 1,087
$0.49MKD 25.61
297.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.77VES 9,900
$7.60MKD 400
133.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.48VES 269
$1.47MKD 77.3
-67.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KVES 12.4M
$34.0KMKD 1.8M
-34.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KVES 17.3M
$29.6KMKD 1.6M
4.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$16.22VES 9,038
$160MKD 8,446
-89.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.02VES 5,028
$18.34MKD 966
-50.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.85VES 14.4K
$19.13MKD 1,008
35.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.34VES 19.1K
$38.37MKD 2,022
-10.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.43VES 13.1K
$17.56MKD 925
33.43%
Cinema Ticket
$5.04VES 2,807
$6.72MKD 354
-25.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112VES 62.5K
$312MKD 16.5K
-64.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.9KVES 7.8M
$4,509MKD 237.6K
208.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.75VES 23.3K
$77.2MKD 4,067
-45.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.17VES 23.5K
$40.43MKD 2,131
4.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.8VES 32.2K
$100MKD 5,275
-42.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.3VES 33.6K
$110MKD 5,810
-45.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$180VES 100.5K
$429MKD 22.6K
-58.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$101VES 56.0K
$310MKD 16.3K
-67.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$330VES 183.7K
$645MKD 34.0K
-48.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$209VES 116.6K
$459MKD 24.2K
-54.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$759VES 423.0K
$2,801MKD 147.6K
-72.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$502VES 279.5K
$1,829MKD 96.4K
-72.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$196VES 109.5K
$913MKD 48.1K
-78.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
26.6
4.54
485.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Maracaibo and $429 in Skopje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skopje pays 365% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Maracaibo vs $34.00 in Skopje for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $213 per month, with Skopje cheaper across the board.
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
Maracaibo vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skopje cheaper than Maracaibo?
Maracaibo is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Maracaibo or Skopje?
On paper, Skopje earns 365% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Maracaibo and Skopje?
Rent for a central apartment: $180 in Maracaibo versus $429 in Skopje. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $112 in Maracaibo versus $312 in Skopje. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Maracaibo and Skopje?
Shoppers in Skopje pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Maracaibo or Skopje?
At $734 in Maracaibo versus $1,112 in Skopje, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maracaibo but tight or insufficient in Skopje. The gap between the two cities makes Maracaibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Maracaibo or Skopje more family-friendly?
For families, Maracaibo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Skopje, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Maracaibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Skopje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.