For one person, living is cheaper in India: $400 a month against $930 in North Macedonia, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
How much you'll spend in North Macedonia and in India
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in North Macedonia and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $930 in North Macedonia versus $400 in India.
North Macedonia $930
India $400
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,383 in North Macedonia versus $638 in India.
North Macedonia $1,383
India $638
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,836 in North Macedonia versus $877 in India.
North Macedonia $1,836
India $877
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $244 to $811, compared to $731–$1,074 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in India.
🌍
Living in North Macedonia is roughly 132% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: North Macedonia 31% lower, India 70% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.13MKD 388
$2.16₹203
230.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.99MKD 1,470
$10.70₹1,004
152.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.41MKD 295
$3.64₹342
48.63%
Cappuccino
$1.69MKD 92.3
$1.75₹164
-3.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MKD 87.8
$0.42₹39.43
283.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 66.8
$0.15₹14.09
720.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24MKD 122
$1.87₹175
19.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MKD 151
$3.13₹294
-11.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31MKD 71.2
$0.65₹60.8
101.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72MKD 39.18
$0.46₹42.95
56.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59MKD 86.8
$0.64₹60.2
148.44%
Eggs
$2.21MKD 121
$0.95₹89.1
132.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.86MKD 428
$4.87₹457
61.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.54MKD 357
$2.82₹265
131.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.20MKD 664
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.16MKD 63.0
$1.92₹180
-39.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MKD 78.9
$0.63₹59.5
130.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33MKD 72.6
$0.99₹92.7
34.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.82MKD 99.3
$0.48₹44.88
279.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88MKD 47.93
$0.33₹31.22
166.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01MKD 54.9
$0.42₹39.78
140.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62MKD 34.02
$0.46₹43.32
34.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MKD 29.83
$0.31₹29.20
77.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.30MKD 180
$5.17₹485
-36.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.50MKD 299
$7.56₹710
-27.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01MKD 55.2
$1.65₹155
-38.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36MKD 74.2
$2.66₹250
-48.87%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.24₹492
-
🚌 Getting Around
North Macedonia
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76MKD 41.14
$0.24₹22.51
216.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.85MKD 1,408
$8.23₹773
214.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28MKD 69.9
$0.96₹90.1
33.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71MKD 38.86
$0.25₹23.47
184.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.44MKD 405
$1.54₹144
383.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MKD 79.4
$1.13₹106
29.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
$11.1K₹1.0M
203.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KMKD 1.5M
$20.3K₹1.9M
37.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144MKD 7,867
$38.08₹3,576
279.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.18MKD 936
$3.53₹331
386.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.96MKD 924
$6.95₹652
144.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.09MKD 1,476
$15.43₹1,449
75.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.74MKD 803
$7.09₹666
107.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.53MKD 356
$3.13₹294
108.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286MKD 15.6K
$58.1₹5,451
393.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,525MKD 410.0K
$3,158₹296.6K
138.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4MKD 3,618
$22.69₹2,130
192.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.55MKD 2,045
$24.44₹2,295
53.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.6MKD 4,720
$40.02₹3,758
116.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101MKD 5,503
$29.67₹2,786
240.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$297MKD 16.2K
$145₹13.7K
104.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235MKD 12.8K
$96.8₹9,092
142.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$538MKD 29.3K
$339₹31.8K
59.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$360MKD 19.6K
$231₹21.7K
55.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,888MKD 102.9K
$1,142₹107.3K
65.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,309MKD 71.3K
$633₹59.4K
106.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$736MKD 40.1K
$407₹38.2K
80.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.69
8.94
-47.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for North Macedonia: November 2, 2026
Last update for India: November 1, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
$235 25.2%
India
$97 24.2% ↓ 58.7%$138
🛒Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
$190 20.4%
India
$102 25.5% ↓ 46.3%$88
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
$179 19.2%
India
$49 12.1% ↓ 72.8%$130
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
$131 14.1%
India
$53 13.1% ↓ 59.9%$79
🍽Eating Out
North Macedonia
$122 13.1%
India
$67 16.8% ↓ 44.9%$55
🎉Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
$40 4.3%
India
$22 5.4% ↓ 45.9%$18
🚌Getting Around
North Macedonia
$34 3.6%
India
$11 2.9% ↓ 66.2%$22
🏠Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
$360 19.6%
India
$231 26.4% ↓ 35.8%$129
🛒Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
$448 24.4%
India
$219 25% ↓ 51.1%$229
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
$196 10.7%
India
$52 5.9% ↓ 73.4%$144
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
$292 15.9%
India
$117 13.3% ↓ 59.9%$175
🍽Eating Out
North Macedonia
$377 20.5%
India
$183 20.9% ↓ 51.3%$194
🎉Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
$95 5.2%
India
$50 5.8% ↓ 46.9%$45
🚌Getting Around
North Macedonia
$69 3.8%
India
$23 2.7% ↓ 66.3%$46
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $273 in North Macedonia, $121 in India. Capital cities: $382 in Skopje vs $278 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $640 in North Macedonia, $405 in India. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 126% higher in North Macedonia.
⭐Dining out costs 145% more in North Macedonia.
⭐Public transport is 200% more expensive in North Macedonia.
⭐Salaries are 58% higher in North Macedonia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and North Macedonia?
At $400 per month in India and $930 in North Macedonia, India comes out about 57% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $273 in North Macedonia and $121 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in North Macedonia?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in North Macedonia it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to North Macedonia?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.
North Macedonia vs other spots: cost of living compared