Cost of Living Comparison Between Ohrid and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Ohrid and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Ohrid vs $1,094 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Ohrid vs $1,636 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,135 per month in Ohrid vs $2,178 in Skopje, rent included.

Ohrid is about 13% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ohrid and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Ohrid 28% lower, Skopje 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ohrid
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.56 MKD 406
$7.42 MKD 399
1.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.52 MKD 1,802
$33.79 MKD 1,817
-0.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.71 MKD 361
$6.65 MKD 357
0.90%
Cappuccino
$2.28 MKD 123
$2.24 MKD 120
1.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 MKD 109
$2.04 MKD 110
-0.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 MKD 66.7
$1.29 MKD 69.5
-3.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 MKD 138
$2.60 MKD 140
-1.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 MKD 186
$3.43 MKD 184
1.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ohrid
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 MKD 65.9
$1.27 MKD 68.5
-3.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 MKD 42.42
$0.84 MKD 45.08
-5.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MKD 92.7
$1.69 MKD 91.0
1.78%
Eggs
$2.14 MKD 115
$2.17 MKD 117
-1.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.68 MKD 467
$9.26 MKD 498
-6.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.76 MKD 417
$8.00 MKD 430
-3.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.84 MKD 744
$13.41 MKD 721
3.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 MKD 55.3
$1.02 MKD 55.0
0.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 MKD 75.4
$1.37 MKD 73.4
2.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 MKD 70.2
$1.37 MKD 73.5
-4.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MKD 112
$2.08 MKD 112
0.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 MKD 43.53
$0.88 MKD 47.21
-7.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 MKD 52.1
$0.97 MKD 51.9
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 MKD 38.73
$0.73 MKD 39.24
-1.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MKD 31.64
$0.59 MKD 31.62
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17 MKD 170
$3.26 MKD 175
-2.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.43 MKD 292
$7.56 MKD 407
-28.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 MKD 56.9
$1.05 MKD 56.7
0.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MKD 71.8
$1.55 MKD 83.5
-13.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Ohrid
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 MKD 62.3
$0.77 MKD 41.38
50.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.02 MKD 1,184
$28.16 MKD 1,514
-21.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 MKD 48.77
$0.98 MKD 52.6
-7.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 MKD 26.52
$0.53 MKD 28.46
-7.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.49 MKD 403
$7.71 MKD 415
-2.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MKD 78.7
$1.47 MKD 79.1
-0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K MKD 1.8M
$34.2K MKD 1.8M
-2.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K MKD 1.6M
$29.4K MKD 1.6M
1.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ohrid
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 MKD 8,778
$160 MKD 8,582
2.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.77 MKD 956
$17.94 MKD 965
-0.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.38 MKD 1,042
$19.42 MKD 1,044
-0.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ohrid
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.72 MKD 1,867
$38.64 MKD 2,078
-10.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06 MKD 1,025
$17.95 MKD 965
6.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55 MKD 352
$6.44 MKD 346
1.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ohrid
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$284 MKD 15.3K
$312 MKD 16.8K
-9.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,449 MKD 185.5K
$4,479 MKD 240.8K
-22.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ohrid
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.6 MKD 4,118
$76.2 MKD 4,096
0.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98 MKD 2,096
$39.60 MKD 2,129
-1.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 MKD 5,403
$100 MKD 5,391
0.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 MKD 5,931
$111 MKD 5,984
-0.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ohrid
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$233 MKD 12.5K
$422 MKD 22.7K
-44.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 MKD 9,263
$309 MKD 16.6K
-44.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$573 MKD 30.8K
$641 MKD 34.5K
-10.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MKD 25.2K
$467 MKD 25.1K
0.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,122 MKD 114.1K
$2,687 MKD 144.5K
-21.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,358 MKD 73.0K
$1,745 MKD 93.8K
-22.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ohrid
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$636 MKD 34.2K
$882 MKD 47.4K
-27.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.54
4.54
-

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

Last update for Ohrid: July 25, 2026

Last update for Skopje: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $233 in Ohrid versus $422 in Skopje. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Skopje, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Ohrid versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $212 – making Ohrid the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Ohrid vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ohrid or Skopje?
Skopje costs about 15% more than Ohrid, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ohrid and in Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,431 per month in Ohrid and $1,641 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ohrid or Skopje?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ohrid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Ohrid and in Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $284 per month in Ohrid and $312 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ohrid or in Skopje?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Skopje, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ohrid or in Skopje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ohrid, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Skopje at $1,094. In Ohrid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ohrid or Skopje?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ohrid costs $954 versus $1,094 in Skopje. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ohrid compared to Skopje?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Ohrid or to Skopje?
If budget matters most, go with Ohrid. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skopje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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