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: $904 in North Macedonia versus $1,676 in Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,357 in North Macedonia versus $2,470 in Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,810 in North Macedonia versus $3,264 in Spain.

Living in North Macedonia costs about 46% less than in Spain on average.

North Macedonia (33% below) and Spain (24% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $957 to $2,716, compared to $750$1,148 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in Spain.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.60 MKD 407
$16.91 €14.77
-55.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.01 MKD 1,554
$58.2 €50.8
-50.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.75 MKD 308
$11.35 €9.91
-49.34%
Cappuccino
$1.74 MKD 93.1
$2.39 €2.09
-27.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MKD 89.4
$2.60 €2.27
-35.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 MKD 64.7
$1.89 €1.65
-35.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 MKD 119
$3.50 €3.06
-36.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 MKD 148
$3.92 €3.42
-29.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 MKD 68.8
$1.19 €1.04
7.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 MKD 37.87
$1.58 €1.38
-55.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 MKD 84.8
$1.65 €1.44
-4.24%
Eggs
$2.32 MKD 124
$3.37 €2.94
-31.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.29 MKD 444
$14.74 €12.87
-43.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 MKD 360
$8.49 €7.42
-20.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.65 MKD 678
$16.94 €14.79
-25.32%
Apples (1kg)
$1.24 MKD 66.2
$2.54 €2.22
-51.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 MKD 79.4
$2.03 €1.77
-27.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 MKD 71.2
$2.09 €1.82
-36.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 MKD 104
$2.59 €2.26
-25.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 MKD 51.3
$1.80 €1.58
-46.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 MKD 51.0
$1.98 €1.73
-52.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 MKD 34.65
$1.38 €1.20
-52.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MKD 28.76
$0.77 €0.67
-29.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 MKD 185
$6.56 €5.73
-47.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.54 MKD 297
$5.79 €5.05
-4.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MKD 57.8
$1.32 €1.16
-18.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MKD 73.5
$2.09 €1.82
-34.45%
🚌 Getting Around
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 MKD 41.62
$1.75 €1.53
-55.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.80 MKD 1,490
$34.33 €29.98
-19.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 MKD 68.9
$4.60 €4.02
-71.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 MKD 39.20
$1.47 €1.29
-50.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.94 MKD 372
$25.35 €22.14
-72.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 MKD 79.1
$1.77 €1.54
-16.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K MKD 1.8M
$35.9K €31.4K
-8.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K MKD 1.6M
$29.8K €26.0K
1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 MKD 7,773
$152 €133
-4.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.58 MKD 942
$17.77 €15.51
-1.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.37 MKD 984
$33.28 €29.06
-44.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.69 MKD 1,483
$45.75 €39.95
-39.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.76 MKD 791
$15.48 €13.52
-4.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MKD 357
$10.00 €8.73
-33.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$274 MKD 14.7K
$546 €477
-49.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,802 MKD 257.3K
$10.6K €9,242
-54.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 MKD 3,730
$86.7 €75.7
-19.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.70 MKD 2,074
$36.83 €32.17
5.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.9 MKD 4,762
$90.6 €79.1
-1.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 MKD 5,525
$108 €94.3
-4.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$313 MKD 16.8K
$1,050 €917
-70.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$251 MKD 13.5K
$828 €723
-69.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$548 MKD 29.4K
$1,603 €1,400
-65.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 MKD 20.2K
$1,218 €1,064
-69.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,886 MKD 101.1K
$4,157 €3,630
-54.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,356 MKD 72.6K
$2,609 €2,278
-48.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Macedonia
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$759 MKD 40.7K
$1,989 €1,737
-61.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.69
3.29
42.55%

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

Last update for North Macedonia: September 19, 2026

Last update for Spain: September 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $280 in North Macedonia, $923 in Spain. Capital cities: $432 in Skopje vs $1,521 in Madrid.

National salary averages: $658 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 230% higher in Spain.

Dining out costs 107% more in Spain.

Public transport is 36% more expensive in Spain.

Salaries are 206% higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.

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 $949 per month in North Macedonia and $1,837 in Spain, there's a 94% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in North Macedonia: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Spain?
In North Macedonia, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Spain 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 North Macedonia or to 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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