🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $780 in Maracaibo versus $1,168 in Skopje.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,279 in Maracaibo versus $1,738 in Skopje.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,779 in Maracaibo versus $2,308 in Skopje.
🌍Living in Maracaibo costs roughly 33% less than in Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo43% lower, Skopje15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.68VES 8,572
$9.46MKD 500
12.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.21VES 32.3K
$33.97MKD 1,795
18.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.07VES 7,283
$6.73MKD 356
34.77%
Cappuccino
$2.65VES 2,130
$2.13MKD 113
24.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20VES 961
$1.88MKD 99.3
-36.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30VES 1,044
$1.30MKD 68.8
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30VES 1,843
$2.77MKD 146
-16.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02VES 2,421
$3.15MKD 166
-4.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71VES 1,370
$1.29MKD 68.2
32.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11VES 1,694
$0.82MKD 43.20
157.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03VES 827
$1.90MKD 100
-45.79%
Eggs
$3.62VES 2,907
$2.47MKD 131
46.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.51VES 5,228
$8.81MKD 466
-26.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.42VES 5,153
$7.56MKD 400
-15.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.27VES 5,840
$15.11MKD 799
-51.89%
Apples(1kg)
$4.66VES 3,739
$1.48MKD 78.2
214.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39VES 1,118
$1.50MKD 79.2
-7.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60VES 1,281
$1.38MKD 72.8
15.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42VES 1,144
$2.06MKD 109
-31.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18VES 946
$0.88MKD 46.38
34.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68VES 1,350
$0.84MKD 44.30
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02VES 818
$0.65MKD 34.23
56.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.06VES 1,654
$0.58MKD 30.86
255.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97VES 2,387
$3.66MKD 194
-18.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.89VES 7,135
$7.47MKD 395
19.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04VES 838
$1.04MKD 55.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69VES 2,163
$1.58MKD 83.6
70.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46VES 370
$0.78MKD 41.34
-41.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.28VES 33.9K
$27.82MKD 1,470
51.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.90VES 3,130
$1.12MKD 59.2
248.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03VES 1,632
$0.67MKD 35.54
202.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.43VES 14.0K
$7.89MKD 417
120.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.67VES 536
$1.62MKD 85.4
-58.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0KVES 12.0M
$37.5KMKD 2.0M
-59.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KVES 22.9M
$28.0KMKD 1.5M
2.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.1VES 51.5K
$166MKD 8,749
-61.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.37VES 5,913
$19.14MKD 1,011
-61.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.72VES 19.8K
$19.69MKD 1,041
25.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.53VES 26.9K
$38.57MKD 2,039
-13.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.26VES 22.7K
$18.23MKD 964
55.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97VES 3,992
$7.31MKD 386
-32.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$149VES 119.4K
$390MKD 20.6K
-61.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,151VES 5.7M
$5,550MKD 293.3K
28.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.55VES 22.1K
$89.6MKD 4,734
-69.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.66VES 26.2K
$40.15MKD 2,122
-18.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.3VES 49.2K
$107MKD 5,680
-43.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.7VES 46.3K
$116MKD 6,151
-50.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$160VES 128.3K
$445MKD 23.5K
-64.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$94.5VES 75.9K
$336MKD 17.8K
-71.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$296VES 237.2K
$764MKD 40.4K
-61.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200VES 160.9K
$530MKD 28.0K
-62.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$752VES 603.4K
$2,710MKD 143.2K
-72.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$491VES 393.9K
$1,869MKD 98.8K
-73.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$198VES 159.2K
$896MKD 47.4K
-77.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
4.25
370.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maracaibo: August 31, 2026
Last update for Skopje: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $160 in Maracaibo and $445 in Skopje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skopje pays 352% 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 $239 vs $218 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 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Maracaibo or Skopje?
On paper, salaries run 352% lower in Skopje. 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: $160 in Maracaibo versus $445 in Skopje. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $149 in Maracaibo versus $390 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 in Skopje?
Shoppers in Skopje pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Maracaibo or in Skopje?
At $780 in Maracaibo versus $1,168 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 50% less than in Skopje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.