Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between North Macedonia and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in North Macedonia: $940 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $21,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in North Macedonia
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North Macedonia Living Index
131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index

Jump to prices

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

$940

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in North Macedonia and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in North Macedonia and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $940 in North Macedonia versus $2,734 in the United States.

North Macedonia $940
United States $2,734

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,393 in North Macedonia versus $3,985 in the United States.

North Macedonia $1,393
United States $3,985

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,847 in North Macedonia versus $5,235 in the United States.

North Macedonia $1,847
United States $5,235

Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $730–$1,112 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in the United States.

Living in North Macedonia costs about 66% less than in the United States on average.

North Macedonia (31% below) and the United States (101% above) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.37 MKD 405

$20.03 $20.03

-63.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.76 MKD 1,527

$80.0 $80.0

-65.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.37 MKD 295

$11.80 $11.80

-54.49%

Cappuccino

$1.67 MKD 91.7

$5.55 $5.55

-69.91%

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

$1.62 MKD 89.0

$2.66 $2.66

-39.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 MKD 65.0

$2.17 $2.17

-45.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 MKD 118

$6.12 $6.12

-64.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 MKD 148

$7.94 $7.94

-66.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 70.8

$1.04 $1.04

24.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 MKD 40.03

$3.59 $3.59

-79.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MKD 85.6

$4.52 $4.52

-65.49%

Eggs

$2.21 MKD 121

$4.28 $4.28

-48.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.29 MKD 456

$13.22 $13.22

-37.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 MKD 372

$12.60 $12.60

-46.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.23 MKD 673

$17.60 $17.60

-30.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 MKD 64.0

$5.30 $5.30

-78.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 78.7

$1.69 $1.69

-15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 MKD 73.2

$4.44 $4.44

-70.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MKD 97.4

$4.77 $4.77

-62.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 51.8

$2.97 $2.97

-68.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 MKD 53.3

$3.15 $3.15

-69.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 MKD 36.88

$2.20 $2.20

-69.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MKD 28.10

$2.35 $2.35

-78.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 MKD 179

$10.98 $10.98

-70.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.48 MKD 301

$15.05 $15.05

-63.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 MKD 54.7

$2.06 $2.06

-51.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 MKD 73.9

$3.79 $3.79

-64.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 MKD 38.48

$1.94 $1.94

-63.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.31 MKD 1,392

$59.4 $59.4

-57.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MKD 69.1

$3.58 $3.58

-64.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 MKD 37.38

$1.88 $1.88

-63.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.68 MKD 367

$29.84 $29.84

-77.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 MKD 80.8

$1.02 $1.02

44.12%

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

$33.9K MKD 1.9M

$28.8K $28.8K

17.95%

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

$27.7K MKD 1.5M

$26.2K $26.2K

5.77%

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

$144 MKD 7,922

$218 $218

-33.94%

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

$17.29 MKD 951

$62.5 $62.5

-72.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.06 MKD 994

$74.5 $74.5

-75.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.80 MKD 1,475

$41.86 $41.86

-35.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.58 MKD 802

$22.81 $22.81

-36.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MKD 358

$14.70 $14.70

-55.71%

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

$289 MKD 15.9K

$1,489 $1,489

-80.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,691 MKD 258.1K

$25.3K $25.3K

-81.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 MKD 3,654

$54.3 $54.3

22.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.71 MKD 2,130

$42.71 $42.71

-9.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 MKD 4,848

$94.1 $94.1

-6.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 MKD 5,675

$114 $114

-9.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 MKD 16.8K

$1,659 $1,659

-81.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 MKD 13.3K

$1,348 $1,348

-82.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$533 MKD 29.3K

$2,682 $2,682

-80.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 MKD 19.7K

$2,169 $2,169

-83.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,930 MKD 106.2K

$3,283 $3,283

-41.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,360 MKD 74.8K

$2,482 $2,482

-45.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 MKD 40.3K

$4,296 $4,296

-82.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.69

6.55

-28.40%

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

Last update for North Macedonia: October 25, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

North Macedonia

$241 25.6%

United States

$1.3K 49.3% 460% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

North Macedonia

$191 20.4%

United States

$415 15.2% 117% $224

Monthly Utilities & Internet

North Macedonia

$179 19.1%

United States

$355 13% 97.9% $176

Clothing & Footwear

North Macedonia

$133 14.2%

United States

$137 5% 2.8% $3.7

Eating Out

North Macedonia

$122 13%

United States

$328 12% 168% $206

Sport & Entertainment

North Macedonia

$40 4.2%

United States

$71 2.6% 78.9% $31

Getting Around

North Macedonia

$33 3.5%

United States

$80 2.9% 145% $47

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $274 in North Macedonia, $1,620 in the United States. Capital cities: $394 in Skopje vs $2,768 in Washington, DC.

National salary averages: $639 in North Macedonia, $4,549 in the United States. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 491% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 178% more in the United States.

Public transport is 163% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 7.1 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

03:16 3:16 AM

22:16 10:16 PM

5 h behind North Macedonia

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,836,713

340,110,988

💱 Currency

North Macedonian Denar MKD ден

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 MKD = 1.82 USD

100 MKD = 1.63 EUR

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MKD – North Macedonian Denar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇰 North Macedonian Denar (ден)

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 55.02 MKD (100 MKD = 1.82 USD). 1 EUR = 61.25 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

USD to MKD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

North Macedonia United States 8,740 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

North Macedonia
United States

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $940 per month in North Macedonia and $2,734 in the United States, North Macedonia comes out about 66% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in North Macedonia: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 in the United States and $274 in North Macedonia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

In North Macedonia, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in the United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you’re after: North Macedonia wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.