😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in North Macedonia versus $389 in India.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,293 in North Macedonia versus $618 in India.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,719 in North Macedonia versus $846 in India.
😐Living in North Macedonia is roughly 123% more expensive than India on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: North Macedonia36% lower, India71% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $267 to $883, compared to $759–$1,105 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in India.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58MKD 402
$2.62₹249
189.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.00MKD 1,486
$13.81₹1,313
102.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.80MKD 308
$4.03₹383
43.92%
Cappuccino
$1.84MKD 97.8
$1.81₹173
1.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MKD 92.7
$0.44₹41.73
297.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 65.3
$0.19₹18.21
547.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32MKD 123
$1.93₹183
20.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89MKD 153
$3.41₹324
-15.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30MKD 69.2
$0.71₹67.6
83.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.48
$0.52₹49.46
36.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MKD 85.3
$0.67₹63.8
140.30%
Eggs
$2.25MKD 119
$1.00₹95.0
125.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.88MKD 471
$5.44₹517
63.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.41MKD 393
$3.22₹307
130.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.27MKD 651
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$0.99MKD 52.6
$2.16₹206
-54.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MKD 75.5
$0.70₹66.6
102.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30MKD 69.0
$1.05₹99.6
23.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91MKD 101
$0.54₹51.0
253.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93MKD 49.27
$0.43₹40.49
116.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MKD 52.3
$0.49₹46.19
102.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68MKD 36.27
$0.55₹52.0
23.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MKD 29.98
$0.35₹33.40
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13MKD 166
$3.97₹377
-21.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.37MKD 338
$7.49₹712
-14.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MKD 55.1
$1.91₹182
-45.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MKD 78.1
$2.92₹278
-49.66%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.89₹560
-
🚌 Getting Around
North Macedonia
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MKD 41.11
$0.33₹31.64
133.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.14MKD 1,493
$9.82₹934
186.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MKD 61.1
$0.91₹86.5
26.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MKD 29.79
$0.28₹26.23
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.67MKD 407
$1.76₹167
335.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53MKD 81.4
$1.22₹116
25.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KMKD 1.8M
$13.8K₹1.3M
150.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KMKD 1.6M
$22.8K₹2.2M
36.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149MKD 7,879
$40.60₹3,862
265.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.59MKD 933
$3.90₹370
351.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.74MKD 994
$8.00₹761
134.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.81MKD 1,688
$15.96₹1,518
99.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.49MKD 769
$7.79₹741
86.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50MKD 345
$3.58₹340
81.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283MKD 15.0K
$69.7₹6,628
305.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,106MKD 217.9K
$1,809₹172.0K
127.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6MKD 3,695
$25.66₹2,440
171.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.42MKD 2,198
$27.13₹2,580
52.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.9MKD 5,140
$46.37₹4,410
108.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111MKD 5,866
$32.55₹3,095
239.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349MKD 18.5K
$175₹16.6K
99.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$257MKD 13.7K
$114₹10.8K
125.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574MKD 30.4K
$401₹38.1K
43.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399MKD 21.2K
$259₹24.6K
54.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,026MKD 107.5K
$1,220₹116.1K
66.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,397MKD 74.1K
$629₹59.8K
122.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Macedonia
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$750MKD 39.8K
$428₹40.7K
75.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.76
9.02
-47.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for North Macedonia: June 9, 2026
Last update for India: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $285 in North Macedonia, $126 in India. Capital cities: $429 in Skopje vs $236 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $662 in North Macedonia, $398 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 136% more in North Macedonia.
⭐Public transport is 133% more expensive in North Macedonia.
⭐Salaries are 66% higher in North Macedonia, giving India 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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and North Macedonia?
At $575 per month in India and $932 in North Macedonia, there's a 62% gap. 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?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. 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 in North Macedonia beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or North Macedonia?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In North Macedonia, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or North Macedonia?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; North Macedonia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
North Macedonia vs other spots: cost of living compared