🙂A single person spends $866 per month in North Macedonia vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,293 per month in North Macedonia vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,719 per month in North Macedonia vs $4,253 in Australia, rent included.
🙂North Macedonia is roughly 60% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊North Macedonia sits 36% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,592–$2,842) than North Macedonia ($759–$1,105), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58MKD 402
$16.44A$23.23
-53.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.00MKD 1,486
$78.1A$110
-64.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.80MKD 308
$9.94A$14.05
-41.65%
Cappuccino
$1.84MKD 97.8
$3.60A$5.08
-48.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MKD 92.7
$2.68A$3.78
-34.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 65.3
$2.14A$3.02
-42.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32MKD 123
$6.53A$9.23
-64.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89MKD 153
$7.05A$9.96
-59.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30MKD 69.2
$1.58A$2.23
-17.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.48
$2.53A$3.57
-71.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MKD 85.3
$2.07A$2.93
-22.22%
Eggs
$2.25MKD 119
$4.30A$6.08
-47.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.88MKD 471
$9.03A$12.76
-1.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.41MKD 393
$8.55A$12.08
-13.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.27MKD 651
$13.96A$19.72
-12.11%
Apples(1kg)
$0.99MKD 52.6
$3.18A$4.49
-68.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MKD 75.5
$2.84A$4.01
-50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30MKD 69.0
$2.95A$4.17
-55.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91MKD 101
$4.43A$6.26
-56.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93MKD 49.27
$2.46A$3.47
-62.20%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MKD 52.3
$2.17A$3.07
-54.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68MKD 36.27
$2.29A$3.24
-70.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MKD 29.98
$1.57A$2.22
-64.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13MKD 166
$30.87A$43.61
-89.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.37MKD 338
$14.06A$19.86
-54.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MKD 55.1
$4.55A$6.43
-77.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MKD 78.1
$4.81A$6.80
-69.44%
🚌 Getting Around
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MKD 41.11
$2.87A$4.05
-73.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.14MKD 1,493
$95.8A$135
-70.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MKD 61.1
$3.65A$5.15
-68.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MKD 29.79
$1.76A$2.49
-68.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.67MKD 407
$38.27A$54.1
-79.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53MKD 81.4
$1.15A$1.63
33.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KMKD 1.8M
$28.4KA$40.1K
21.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KMKD 1.6M
$23.0KA$32.5K
35.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149MKD 7,879
$178A$251
-16.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.59MKD 933
$26.46A$37.38
-33.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.74MKD 994
$54.1A$76.4
-65.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.81MKD 1,688
$46.64A$65.9
-31.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.49MKD 769
$16.54A$23.37
-12.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50MKD 345
$13.65A$19.28
-52.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283MKD 15.0K
$1,575A$2,225
-82.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,106MKD 217.9K
$12.7KA$17.9K
-67.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6MKD 3,695
$71.5A$101
-2.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.42MKD 2,198
$50.8A$71.8
-18.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.9MKD 5,140
$100A$142
-3.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111MKD 5,866
$108A$153
2.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349MKD 18.5K
$1,384A$1,955
-74.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$257MKD 13.7K
$1,105A$1,562
-76.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574MKD 30.4K
$2,298A$3,246
-75.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399MKD 21.2K
$1,728A$2,441
-76.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,026MKD 107.5K
$7,610A$10.8K
-73.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,397MKD 74.1K
$5,504A$7,776
-74.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$750MKD 39.8K
$4,002A$5,654
-81.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.76
6.35
-25.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for North Macedonia: June 9, 2026
Last update for Australia: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $285 in North Macedonia vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $429 in Skopje and $1,568 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $662 in North Macedonia vs $3,845 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 332% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 196% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 219% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 481% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.
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
North Macedonia vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than North Macedonia?
North Macedonia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 138% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in North Macedonia, contributing to the overall 138% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Australia or North Macedonia?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in North Macedonia, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or North Macedonia?
North Macedonia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
North Macedonia vs other spots: cost of living compared