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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in North Macedonia versus $1,642 in Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,293 in North Macedonia versus $2,399 in Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,719 in North Macedonia versus $3,155 in Spain.

Living in North Macedonia costs about 47% less than in Spain on average.

North Macedonia (36% below) and Spain (22% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,127 to $3,255, compared to $759$1,105 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in Spain.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58 MKD 402
$15.98 €13.77
-52.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.00 MKD 1,486
$57.6 €49.63
-51.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 MKD 308
$10.27 €8.85
-43.52%
Cappuccino
$1.84 MKD 97.8
$2.38 €2.05
-22.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 MKD 92.7
$2.58 €2.22
-32.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MKD 65.3
$1.83 €1.58
-32.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 MKD 123
$3.54 €3.05
-34.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 MKD 153
$4.09 €3.52
-29.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 MKD 69.2
$1.22 €1.05
6.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 MKD 37.48
$1.53 €1.31
-53.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MKD 85.3
$1.60 €1.38
0.63%
Eggs
$2.25 MKD 119
$2.93 €2.53
-23.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.88 MKD 471
$14.33 €12.34
-38.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.41 MKD 393
$8.31 €7.16
-10.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.27 MKD 651
$15.62 €13.46
-21.45%
Apples (1kg)
$0.99 MKD 52.6
$2.53 €2.18
-60.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 MKD 75.5
$1.99 €1.72
-28.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 MKD 69.0
$2.11 €1.82
-38.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 MKD 101
$2.54 €2.19
-24.80%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 MKD 49.27
$1.77 €1.52
-47.46%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 MKD 52.3
$1.98 €1.70
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 MKD 36.27
$1.30 €1.12
-47.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MKD 29.98
$0.74 €0.64
-24.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 MKD 166
$6.19 €5.33
-49.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.37 MKD 338
$5.93 €5.11
7.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MKD 55.1
$1.25 €1.07
-16.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MKD 78.1
$2.07 €1.78
-28.99%
🚌 Getting Around
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 MKD 41.11
$1.78 €1.53
-56.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.14 MKD 1,493
$34.91 €30.08
-19.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 MKD 61.1
$4.48 €3.86
-74.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MKD 29.79
$1.34 €1.15
-58.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.67 MKD 407
$26.24 €22.61
-70.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MKD 81.4
$1.76 €1.51
-13.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K MKD 1.8M
$38.2K €32.9K
-9.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K MKD 1.6M
$31.6K €27.3K
-1.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 MKD 7,879
$149 €128
-0.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.59 MKD 933
$20.16 €17.37
-12.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.74 MKD 994
$34.11 €29.39
-45.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.81 MKD 1,688
$47.12 €40.60
-32.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.49 MKD 769
$15.83 €13.64
-8.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 MKD 345
$9.47 €8.16
-31.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 MKD 15.0K
$517 €445
-45.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,106 MKD 217.9K
$10.2K €8,752
-59.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 MKD 3,695
$87.2 €75.1
-20.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.42 MKD 2,198
$37.36 €32.19
10.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 MKD 5,140
$91.3 €78.7
6.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 MKD 5,866
$106 €91.0
4.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 MKD 18.5K
$1,074 €925
-67.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$257 MKD 13.7K
$815 €702
-68.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$574 MKD 30.4K
$1,691 €1,457
-66.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$399 MKD 21.2K
$1,228 €1,058
-67.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,026 MKD 107.5K
$4,338 €3,738
-53.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,397 MKD 74.1K
$2,744 €2,364
-49.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$750 MKD 39.8K
$2,031 €1,750
-63.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.76
3.51
35.61%

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

Last update for North Macedonia: June 9, 2026

Last update for Spain: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $285 in North Macedonia, $898 in Spain. Capital cities: $429 in Skopje vs $1,609 in Madrid.

National salary averages: $662 in North Macedonia, $2,011 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 215% higher in Spain.

Dining out costs 104% more in Spain.

Public transport is 57% more expensive in Spain.

Salaries are 204% higher in Spain, giving Spain 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 Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between North Macedonia and Spain?
At $932 per month in North Macedonia and $2,191 in Spain, there's a 135% 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?
North Macedonia 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 Spain beats North Macedonia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in North Macedonia or Spain?
In North Macedonia, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In Spain, 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 North Macedonia or Spain?
It depends on what you're after. North Macedonia wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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