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: $867 in North Macedonia versus $1,644 in Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,296 in North Macedonia versus $2,400 in Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,725 in North Macedonia versus $3,155 in Spain.

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

North Macedonia (35% below) and Spain (23% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,115 to $3,300, compared to $759$1,083 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in Spain.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.70 MKD 405
$16.01 €13.67
-51.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.92 MKD 1,519
$59.0 €50.4
-50.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.73 MKD 301
$10.26 €8.77
-44.15%
Cappuccino
$1.95 MKD 102
$2.29 €1.95
-14.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 MKD 94.0
$2.59 €2.21
-30.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 MKD 61.7
$1.81 €1.55
-35.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 MKD 120
$3.53 €3.01
-35.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 MKD 149
$4.02 €3.44
-29.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 MKD 67.9
$1.24 €1.06
4.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 MKD 40.61
$1.52 €1.30
-49.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 MKD 88.0
$1.60 €1.37
5.00%
Eggs
$2.23 MKD 117
$2.98 €2.54
-25.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.00 MKD 472
$14.49 €12.38
-37.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.20 MKD 378
$8.37 €7.14
-13.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.44 MKD 653
$15.94 €13.62
-21.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.05 MKD 55.0
$2.54 €2.17
-58.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 MKD 73.8
$2.10 €1.79
-32.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 MKD 67.9
$2.06 €1.76
-37.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 MKD 101
$2.64 €2.25
-26.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 MKD 48.14
$1.84 €1.58
-50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 MKD 51.2
$1.91 €1.63
-48.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 MKD 34.31
$1.33 €1.14
-51.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MKD 29.65
$0.80 €0.68
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15 MKD 166
$6.43 €5.49
-51.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.55 MKD 344
$5.82 €4.97
12.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MKD 56.3
$1.24 €1.06
-13.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MKD 75.3
$2.11 €1.80
-32.23%
🚌 Getting Around
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 MKD 40.19
$1.70 €1.45
-54.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.52 MKD 1,498
$34.64 €29.58
-17.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 MKD 57.9
$4.60 €3.93
-76.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 MKD 32.43
$1.35 €1.15
-54.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.72 MKD 405
$27.00 €23.06
-71.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 MKD 78.9
$1.84 €1.57
-18.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K MKD 1.8M
$38.3K €32.7K
-12.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K MKD 1.6M
$31.2K €26.7K
-0.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 MKD 7,975
$151 €129
0.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.97 MKD 944
$20.30 €17.34
-11.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.28 MKD 960
$33.21 €28.36
-44.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.94 MKD 1,625
$47.38 €40.47
-34.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.41 MKD 757
$15.74 €13.44
-8.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 MKD 349
$9.06 €7.74
-26.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 MKD 14.8K
$523 €446
-46.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,094 MKD 215.0K
$9,978 €8,521
-58.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.4 MKD 3,750
$87.7 €74.9
-18.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.96 MKD 2,204
$37.32 €31.87
12.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 MKD 4,997
$88.7 €75.8
7.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 MKD 5,751
$106 €90.8
2.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$342 MKD 18.0K
$1,052 €899
-67.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 MKD 13.8K
$809 €691
-67.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$562 MKD 29.5K
$1,674 €1,429
-66.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$396 MKD 20.8K
$1,213 €1,036
-67.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 MKD 104.8K
$4,487 €3,832
-55.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,489 MKD 78.2K
$2,733 €2,334
-45.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$782 MKD 41.1K
$2,111 €1,803
-62.93%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Spain: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $282 in North Macedonia, $899 in Spain. Capital cities: $423 in Skopje vs $1,595 in Madrid.

National salary averages: $685 in North Macedonia, $2,010 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 219% higher in Spain.

Dining out costs 104% more in Spain.

Public transport is 57% more expensive in Spain.

Salaries are 193% 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 $921 per month in North Macedonia and $2,208 in Spain, there's a 140% 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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