🙂A single person spends $904 per month in North Macedonia vs $2,454 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,355 per month in North Macedonia vs $3,566 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,806 per month in North Macedonia vs $4,677 in Australia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in North Macedonia is roughly 63% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊North Macedonia sits 33% below the global median, while Australia is 81% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,156–$3,147) than in North Macedonia ($587–$1,138), so city choice matters more there.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67MKD 409
$17.21A$24.41
-55.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.58MKD 1,471
$82.7A$117
-66.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.58MKD 298
$10.58A$15.01
-47.26%
Cappuccino
$1.78MKD 95.1
$3.85A$5.46
-53.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72MKD 91.7
$2.96A$4.20
-41.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19MKD 63.3
$2.39A$3.39
-50.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26MKD 121
$7.58A$10.75
-70.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71MKD 144
$7.51A$10.66
-63.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MKD 68.4
$1.72A$2.44
-25.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.64
$2.80A$3.98
-74.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68MKD 89.9
$2.23A$3.17
-24.66%
Eggs
$2.33MKD 124
$5.07A$7.19
-54.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.58MKD 458
$9.49A$13.46
-9.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.87MKD 366
$9.09A$12.89
-24.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.16MKD 649
$15.04A$21.34
-19.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23MKD 65.8
$3.65A$5.17
-66.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MKD 80.0
$3.05A$4.33
-50.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37MKD 73.2
$3.22A$4.57
-57.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01MKD 107
$4.62A$6.55
-56.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92MKD 48.92
$2.85A$4.04
-67.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03MKD 55.1
$2.35A$3.33
-56.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64MKD 33.90
$2.39A$3.39
-73.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MKD 28.63
$1.73A$2.46
-68.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44MKD 184
$36.99A$52.5
-90.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.69MKD 303
$14.15A$20.07
-59.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MKD 57.3
$4.87A$6.91
-78.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MKD 73.9
$5.17A$7.33
-73.11%
🚌 Getting Around
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74MKD 39.27
$3.01A$4.27
-75.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.36MKD 1,460
$91.9A$130
-70.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29MKD 68.6
$3.45A$4.89
-62.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70MKD 37.22
$1.56A$2.21
-55.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.87MKD 367
$39.88A$56.6
-82.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MKD 77.6
$1.31A$1.85
10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KMKD 1.9M
$27.6KA$39.2K
25.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8KMKD 1.6M
$28.2KA$40.0K
5.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147MKD 7,850
$200A$283
-26.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.27MKD 921
$29.40A$41.71
-41.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.32MKD 977
$58.7A$83.2
-68.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.23MKD 1,506
$55.4A$78.6
-49.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.56MKD 777
$19.50A$27.66
-25.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.45MKD 344
$15.64A$22.19
-58.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282MKD 15.0K
$2,084A$2,957
-86.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,571MKD 243.9K
$17.5KA$24.9K
-73.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8MKD 3,725
$77.2A$109
-9.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.95MKD 2,078
$55.3A$78.5
-29.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.8MKD 4,789
$112A$159
-20.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105MKD 5,604
$123A$175
-14.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$311MKD 16.6K
$1,530A$2,171
-79.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$236MKD 12.6K
$1,254A$1,779
-81.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$538MKD 28.7K
$2,451A$3,477
-78.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369MKD 19.7K
$1,941A$2,754
-81.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,942MKD 103.6K
$8,141A$11.5K
-76.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,301MKD 69.4K
$5,940A$8,426
-78.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$766MKD 40.9K
$4,066A$5,769
-81.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.73
5.93
-20.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for North Macedonia: August 2, 2026
Last update for Australia: August 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $270 in North Macedonia vs $1,351 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $424 in Skopje and $1,728 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $660 in North Macedonia vs $3,813 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 400% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 207% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 252% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 478% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
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 149% 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 149% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Australia or in 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 to 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