Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between North Macedonia and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in North Macedonia: $943 a month against $1,526 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in North Macedonia
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North Macedonia Living Index
74

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more

Istanbul Living Index

Jump to prices

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

$943

/mo nomad

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,526

/mo nomad

🙂 Solo nomad: North Macedonia is 32.3% cheaper than Istanbul without rent, and 38.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: North Macedonia is 33.4% cheaper than Istanbul without rent, and 43.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.15 MKD 392

$11.88 ₺585

-39.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.49 MKD 1,506

$55.1 ₺2,714

-50.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 MKD 291

$9.14 ₺450

-41.90%

Cappuccino

$1.69 MKD 92.6

$4.24 ₺209

-60.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 MKD 87.3

$1.75 ₺86.0

-9.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 MKD 64.7

$0.54 ₺26.83

118.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 MKD 122

$4.69 ₺231

-52.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 MKD 150

$5.97 ₺294

-54.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 70.9

$1.26 ₺62.1

2.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 MKD 36.64

$0.95 ₺46.81

-29.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 89.1

$2.31 ₺114

-29.44%

Eggs

$2.32 MKD 127

$2.47 ₺122

-6.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 MKD 447

$10.55 ₺520

-22.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 MKD 367

$5.60 ₺276

19.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 MKD 655

$21.21 ₺1,045

-43.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 MKD 66.4

$1.93 ₺95.1

-37.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 76.3

$2.29 ₺113

-39.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 MKD 70.5

$1.28 ₺63.1

0.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MKD 101

$1.84 ₺90.8

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 47.95

$0.67 ₺32.86

31.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 54.4

$0.59 ₺29.31

67.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 MKD 35.77

$1.33 ₺65.4

-51.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MKD 28.07

$0.59 ₺29.10

-13.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 MKD 175

$2.36 ₺116

35.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.50 MKD 301

$13.47 ₺664

-59.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 55.1

$2.42 ₺119

-58.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MKD 73.0

$3.54 ₺174

-62.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 MKD 38.30

$0.83 ₺40.64

-15.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MKD 1,440

$66.5 ₺3,273

-60.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 MKD 67.9

$1.35 ₺66.6

-8.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 MKD 39.31

$0.85 ₺42.05

-15.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 MKD 370

$10.86 ₺535

-37.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 MKD 79.8

$1.47 ₺72.3

-0.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.3K MKD 1.8M

$51.6K ₺2.5M

-35.51%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.7K MKD 1.6M

$44.4K ₺2.2M

-35.45%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$146 MKD 7,983

$89.2 ₺4,395

63.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.98 MKD 931

$11.60 ₺572

46.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.82 MKD 977

$16.10 ₺793

10.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.38 MKD 1,501

$77.3 ₺3,805

-64.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 MKD 787

$22.66 ₺1,116

-36.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.56 MKD 359

$8.34 ₺411

-21.34%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$268 MKD 14.7K

$974 ₺48.0K

-72.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,597 MKD 251.9K

$25.8K ₺1.3M

-82.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.2 MKD 3,736

$52.7 ₺2,597

29.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.57 MKD 2,059

$39.16 ₺1,929

-4.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 MKD 4,895

$103 ₺5,083

-13.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 MKD 5,576

$96.6 ₺4,759

5.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 MKD 16.5K

$994 ₺49.0K

-69.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 MKD 12.7K

$629 ₺31.0K

-63.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 MKD 29.0K

$2,024 ₺99.7K

-73.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 MKD 19.4K

$1,155 ₺56.9K

-69.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,870 MKD 102.5K

$3,160 ₺155.7K

-40.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,307 MKD 71.6K

$1,838 ₺90.5K

-28.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$727 MKD 39.9K

$1,203 ₺59.3K

-39.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.69

41.09

-88.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for North Macedonia: October 3, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

North Macedonia

$233 25%

Istanbul

$629 41.2% 171% $397

Groceries & Markets

North Macedonia

$190 20.4%

Istanbul

$264 17.3% 38.9% $74

Monthly Utilities & Internet

North Macedonia

$180 19.4%

Istanbul

$117 7.7% 35.2% $64

Clothing & Footwear

North Macedonia

$134 14.3%

Istanbul

$131 8.6% 1.7% $2.3

Eating Out

North Macedonia

$121 13%

Istanbul

$218 14.3% 79.9% $97

Sport & Entertainment

North Macedonia

$41 4.3%

Istanbul

$94 6.1% 132% $53

Getting Around

North Macedonia

$34 3.6%

Istanbul

$75 4.9% 122% $41

Good to know

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🕒 Local time

05:38 5:38 AM

06:38 6:38 AM

1 h ahead of North Macedonia

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,836,713

15,701,602

💱 Currency

North Macedonian Denar MKD ден

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

📈 Exchange rate

100 MKD = 1.82 USD

100 MKD = 1.63 EUR

100 TRY = 2.03 USD

100 TRY = 1.81 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to MKD – North Macedonian Denar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇰 North Macedonian Denar (ден)

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 54.8 MKD (100 MKD = 1.82 USD). 1 EUR = 61.46 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 49.26 TRY (100 TRY = 2.03 USD). 1 EUR = 55.25 TRY (100 TRY = 1.81 EUR).

USD to MKD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

North Macedonia Istanbul 640 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

North Macedonia
Istanbul

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Cost of Living Comparison Between North Macedonia and Istanbul

TRY, USD, EUR to MKD – North Macedonian Denar Converter

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

North Macedonia

Istanbul

North Macedonia

Istanbul

North Macedonia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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