Cost of Living Comparison Between North Macedonia and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between North Macedonia and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$7.67 MKD 409
$17.21 A$24.41
-55.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.58 MKD 1,471
$82.7 A$117
-66.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.58 MKD 298
$10.58 A$15.01
-47.26%
Cappuccino
$1.78 MKD 95.1
$3.85 A$5.46
-53.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 MKD 91.7
$2.96 A$4.20
-41.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 MKD 63.3
$2.39 A$3.39
-50.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 MKD 121
$7.58 A$10.75
-70.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 MKD 144
$7.51 A$10.66
-63.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 MKD 68.4
$1.72 A$2.44
-25.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 MKD 37.64
$2.80 A$3.98
-74.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 MKD 89.9
$2.23 A$3.17
-24.66%
Eggs
$2.33 MKD 124
$5.07 A$7.19
-54.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.58 MKD 458
$9.49 A$13.46
-9.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.87 MKD 366
$9.09 A$12.89
-24.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 MKD 649
$15.04 A$21.34
-19.15%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 MKD 65.8
$3.65 A$5.17
-66.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MKD 80.0
$3.05 A$4.33
-50.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 MKD 73.2
$3.22 A$4.57
-57.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.01 MKD 107
$4.62 A$6.55
-56.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 MKD 48.92
$2.85 A$4.04
-67.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 MKD 55.1
$2.35 A$3.33
-56.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 MKD 33.90
$2.39 A$3.39
-73.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MKD 28.63
$1.73 A$2.46
-68.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 MKD 184
$36.99 A$52.5
-90.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.69 MKD 303
$14.15 A$20.07
-59.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MKD 57.3
$4.87 A$6.91
-78.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MKD 73.9
$5.17 A$7.33
-73.11%
🚌 Getting Around
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 MKD 39.27
$3.01 A$4.27
-75.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.36 MKD 1,460
$91.9 A$130
-70.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 MKD 68.6
$3.45 A$4.89
-62.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 MKD 37.22
$1.56 A$2.21
-55.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.87 MKD 367
$39.88 A$56.6
-82.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MKD 77.6
$1.31 A$1.85
10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K MKD 1.9M
$27.6K A$39.2K
25.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K MKD 1.6M
$28.2K A$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)
$147 MKD 7,850
$200 A$283
-26.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.27 MKD 921
$29.40 A$41.71
-41.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.32 MKD 977
$58.7 A$83.2
-68.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.23 MKD 1,506
$55.4 A$78.6
-49.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.56 MKD 777
$19.50 A$27.66
-25.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.45 MKD 344
$15.64 A$22.19
-58.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$282 MKD 15.0K
$2,084 A$2,957
-86.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,571 MKD 243.9K
$17.5K A$24.9K
-73.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8 MKD 3,725
$77.2 A$109
-9.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.95 MKD 2,078
$55.3 A$78.5
-29.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 MKD 4,789
$112 A$159
-20.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 MKD 5,604
$123 A$175
-14.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$311 MKD 16.6K
$1,530 A$2,171
-79.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$236 MKD 12.6K
$1,254 A$1,779
-81.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$538 MKD 28.7K
$2,451 A$3,477
-78.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 MKD 19.7K
$1,941 A$2,754
-81.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,942 MKD 103.6K
$8,141 A$11.5K
-76.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,301 MKD 69.4K
$5,940 A$8,426
-78.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$766 MKD 40.9K
$4,066 A$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

Similar countries