🙂A single person spends $904 per month in North Macedonia vs $2,508 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,357 per month in North Macedonia vs $3,638 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,810 per month in North Macedonia vs $4,768 in Australia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in North Macedonia is roughly 64% 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 86% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,219–$3,390) than in North Macedonia ($750–$1,148), so city choice matters more there.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.60MKD 407
$17.54A$24.65
-56.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.01MKD 1,554
$86.1A$121
-66.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.75MKD 308
$10.89A$15.31
-47.20%
Cappuccino
$1.74MKD 93.1
$4.10A$5.77
-57.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67MKD 89.4
$2.90A$4.07
-42.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21MKD 64.7
$2.36A$3.31
-48.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22MKD 119
$7.79A$10.95
-71.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76MKD 148
$7.85A$11.04
-64.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MKD 68.8
$1.72A$2.41
-25.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.87
$2.77A$3.89
-74.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58MKD 84.8
$2.25A$3.16
-29.78%
Eggs
$2.32MKD 124
$4.98A$7.01
-53.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.29MKD 444
$10.19A$14.32
-18.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.71MKD 360
$9.33A$13.11
-28.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.65MKD 678
$15.12A$21.25
-16.34%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24MKD 66.2
$3.83A$5.38
-67.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48MKD 79.4
$2.97A$4.17
-50.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33MKD 71.2
$3.17A$4.45
-58.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.93MKD 104
$4.86A$6.83
-60.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96MKD 51.3
$2.84A$4.00
-66.20%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95MKD 51.0
$2.40A$3.38
-60.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65MKD 34.65
$2.40A$3.37
-72.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MKD 28.76
$1.74A$2.44
-68.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45MKD 185
$38.58A$54.2
-91.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.54MKD 297
$14.48A$20.35
-61.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MKD 57.8
$4.94A$6.94
-78.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MKD 73.5
$5.34A$7.51
-74.34%
🚌 Getting Around
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78MKD 41.62
$2.82A$3.96
-72.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.80MKD 1,490
$93.8A$132
-70.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29MKD 68.9
$3.63A$5.10
-64.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73MKD 39.20
$1.61A$2.26
-54.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.94MKD 372
$40.04A$56.3
-82.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48MKD 79.1
$1.28A$1.80
15.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KMKD 1.8M
$28.1KA$39.4K
17.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KMKD 1.6M
$28.7KA$40.3K
5.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145MKD 7,773
$204A$286
-28.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.58MKD 942
$29.48A$41.43
-40.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.37MKD 984
$59.1A$83.1
-68.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.69MKD 1,483
$58.3A$81.9
-52.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.76MKD 791
$20.03A$28.15
-26.31%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66MKD 357
$15.42A$21.68
-56.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$274MKD 14.7K
$2,183A$3,069
-87.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,802MKD 257.3K
$18.4KA$25.9K
-73.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6MKD 3,730
$80.8A$114
-13.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.70MKD 2,074
$55.5A$78.0
-30.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.9MKD 4,762
$117A$165
-24.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103MKD 5,525
$125A$175
-17.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$313MKD 16.8K
$1,618A$2,274
-80.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$251MKD 13.5K
$1,295A$1,821
-80.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$548MKD 29.4K
$2,531A$3,558
-78.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$377MKD 20.2K
$2,007A$2,822
-81.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,886MKD 101.1K
$8,347A$11.7K
-77.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,356MKD 72.6K
$6,134A$8,623
-77.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Macedonia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$759MKD 40.7K
$4,112A$5,779
-81.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.69
5.93
-20.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for North Macedonia: September 19, 2026
Last update for Australia: September 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $280 in North Macedonia vs $1,396 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $432 in Skopje and $1,855 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $658 in North Macedonia vs $3,902 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 399% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 200% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 259% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 493% 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 143% 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 143% 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