🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $745 in Maracaibo versus $1,087 in Skopje.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,249 in Maracaibo versus $1,634 in Skopje.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,753 in Maracaibo versus $2,180 in Skopje.
🌍Living in Maracaibo costs roughly 31% less than in Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo44% lower, Skopje19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.59VES 7,737
$7.58MKD 407
39.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.33VES 29.5K
$33.45MKD 1,794
20.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.79VES 6,419
$6.70MKD 359
31.19%
Cappuccino
$2.75VES 2,013
$2.27MKD 122
21.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15VES 839
$2.03MKD 109
-43.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30VES 950
$1.29MKD 69.2
0.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20VES 1,604
$2.66MKD 143
-17.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03VES 2,214
$3.35MKD 180
-9.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72VES 1,259
$1.29MKD 69.4
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01VES 1,467
$0.76MKD 40.80
164.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11VES 812
$1.67MKD 89.6
-33.53%
Eggs
$3.04VES 2,223
$2.21MKD 119
37.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.90VES 4,309
$9.13MKD 490
-35.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27VES 3,851
$7.78MKD 417
-32.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.34VES 4,629
$13.71MKD 735
-53.76%
Apples(1kg)
$4.31VES 3,147
$1.06MKD 57.1
306.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37VES 1,001
$1.43MKD 76.8
-4.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68VES 1,230
$1.35MKD 72.5
24.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.48VES 1,078
$2.17MKD 116
-31.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17VES 856
$0.89MKD 47.75
31.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69VES 1,234
$0.90MKD 48.45
87.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99VES 722
$0.69MKD 36.92
43.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63VES 1,194
$0.55MKD 29.70
196.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44VES 2,513
$3.18MKD 170
8.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27VES 6,773
$7.26MKD 389
27.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07VES 779
$1.07MKD 57.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65VES 1,934
$1.52MKD 81.5
74.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49VES 356
$0.76MKD 40.94
-35.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.21VES 30.8K
$28.58MKD 1,533
47.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.90VES 2,848
$0.96MKD 51.6
306.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96VES 1,435
$0.48MKD 26.01
308.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.73VES 13.0K
$7.41MKD 397
139.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.52VES 378
$1.49MKD 79.7
-65.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KVES 16.7M
$33.7KMKD 1.8M
-32.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KVES 22.8M
$29.3KMKD 1.6M
6.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$16.36VES 12.0K
$160MKD 8,574
-89.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.61VES 6,290
$18.05MKD 968
-52.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.41VES 18.6K
$19.13MKD 1,026
32.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.13VES 24.9K
$38.66MKD 2,074
-11.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.62VES 17.3K
$17.36MKD 931
36.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97VES 3,628
$6.62MKD 355
-24.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$111VES 81.2K
$320MKD 17.2K
-65.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3KVES 10.5M
$4,642MKD 249.0K
208.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.23VES 30.1K
$77.5MKD 4,157
-46.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.87VES 30.6K
$40.16MKD 2,154
4.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.7VES 42.9K
$100MKD 5,364
-41.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.6VES 43.5K
$110MKD 5,913
-45.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$181VES 131.9K
$425MKD 22.8K
-57.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$102VES 74.7K
$310MKD 16.6K
-67.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327VES 238.9K
$645MKD 34.6K
-49.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213VES 155.3K
$463MKD 24.8K
-54.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$763VES 557.8K
$2,731MKD 146.5K
-72.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$497VES 363.4K
$1,740MKD 93.3K
-71.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracaibo
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$198VES 144.9K
$886MKD 47.5K
-77.61%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Maracaibo and $425 in Skopje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skopje pays 347% 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 $33.00 in Skopje for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $210 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 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Maracaibo or Skopje?
On paper, salaries run 347% 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: $181 in Maracaibo versus $425 in Skopje. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $111 in Maracaibo versus $320 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 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,000 enough for either Maracaibo or Skopje?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Maracaibo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 46% less than in Skopje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.