Cost of Living Comparison Between Samsun and SkopjeCost of Living Comparison Between Samsun and Skopje
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $991 in Samsun versus $1,112 in Skopje.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,509 in Samsun versus $1,621 in Skopje.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,027 in Samsun versus $2,130 in Skopje.
πLiving in Samsun costs roughly 11% less than in Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Samsun26% lower, Skopje17% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Samsun
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65βΊ351
$7.57MKDΒ 399
1.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.10βΊ1,153
$34.02MKDΒ 1,793
-26.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.99βΊ413
$6.65MKDΒ 350
35.19%
Cappuccino
$2.81βΊ129
$2.19MKDΒ 115
28.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30βΊ59.9
$1.94MKDΒ 102
-32.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24βΊ10.97
$1.28MKDΒ 67.5
-81.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.84βΊ130
$2.70MKDΒ 142
5.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97βΊ136
$3.47MKDΒ 183
-14.41%
π Groceries & Markets
Samsun
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05βΊ48.41
$1.34MKDΒ 70.7
-21.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40βΊ18.32
$0.82MKDΒ 43.38
-51.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90βΊ179
$1.75MKDΒ 92.4
122.86%
Eggs
$1.71βΊ78.6
$2.19MKDΒ 115
-21.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.10βΊ418
$9.22MKDΒ 486
-1.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.02βΊ460
$7.99MKDΒ 421
25.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.35βΊ889
$13.63MKDΒ 719
41.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30βΊ59.6
$1.01MKDΒ 53.4
28.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12βΊ51.3
$1.41MKDΒ 74.5
-20.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92βΊ42.10
$1.32MKDΒ 69.6
-30.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24βΊ57.1
$2.17MKDΒ 115
-42.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.70
$0.88MKDΒ 46.57
-31.82%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.77
$0.92MKDΒ 48.53
-34.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73βΊ33.76
$0.71MKDΒ 37.43
2.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68βΊ31.29
$0.58MKDΒ 30.60
17.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04βΊ93.9
$3.15MKDΒ 166
-35.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.62βΊ442
$7.41MKDΒ 391
29.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01βΊ92.5
$1.06MKDΒ 55.9
89.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50βΊ115
$1.51MKDΒ 79.8
65.56%
π Getting Around
Samsun
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59βΊ27.00
$0.77MKDΒ 40.44
-23.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.66βΊ444
$27.67MKDΒ 1,458
-65.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26βΊ104
$0.98MKDΒ 51.5
130.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61βΊ27.90
$0.49MKDΒ 25.61
24.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.65βΊ214
$7.60MKDΒ 400
-38.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13βΊ51.8
$1.47MKDΒ 77.3
-23.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.8KβΊ2.0M
$34.0KMKDΒ 1.8M
25.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$49.6KβΊ2.3M
$29.6KMKDΒ 1.6M
67.61%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samsun
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.83βΊ2,290
$160MKDΒ 8,446
-68.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99βΊ505
$18.34MKDΒ 966
-40.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.23βΊ516
$19.13MKDΒ 1,008
-41.30%
π Sport & Entertainment
Samsun
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.3βΊ3,780
$38.37MKDΒ 2,022
114.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.56MKDΒ 925
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.75βΊ264
$6.72MKDΒ 354
-14.43%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Samsun
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$500βΊ23.0K
$312MKDΒ 16.5K
59.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,735βΊ171.6K
$4,509MKDΒ 237.6K
-17.18%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Samsun
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.79βΊ1,736
$77.2MKDΒ 4,067
-51.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.67βΊ2,098
$40.43MKDΒ 2,131
12.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8βΊ4,033
$100MKDΒ 5,275
-12.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.24βΊ2,079
$110MKDΒ 5,810
-58.97%
π Accommodation & Living
Samsun
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500βΊ23.0K
$429MKDΒ 22.6K
16.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328βΊ15.1K
$310MKDΒ 16.3K
5.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$724βΊ33.3K
$645MKDΒ 34.0K
12.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523βΊ24.0K
$459MKDΒ 24.2K
14.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$795βΊ36.5K
$2,801MKDΒ 147.6K
-71.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$429βΊ19.7K
$1,829MKDΒ 96.4K
-76.54%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Samsun
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,006βΊ46.2K
$913MKDΒ 48.1K
10.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
43.33
4.54
854.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samsun: June 2, 2026
Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Samsun and $429 in Skopje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Samsun pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $25.00 in Samsun vs $34.00 in Skopje. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $213, with Skopje cheaper for home cooking.
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
Samsun vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skopje cheaper than Samsun?
Samsun is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Samsun or Skopje?
Samsun pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Samsun and Skopje?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Samsun versus $429 in Skopje. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Samsun or Skopje?
Dining out is cheaper in Samsun β a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $34.00 in Skopje. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Samsun vs Skopje?
All in, you'll spend $991 per month in Samsun versus $1,112 in Skopje β a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Samsun or Skopje?
At $991 in Samsun versus $1,112 in Skopje, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samsun but tight or insufficient in Skopje. The gap between the two cities makes Samsun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Samsun or Skopje more family-friendly?
For families, Samsun is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Skopje, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Samsun or Skopje?
Safety-wise, Samsun and Skopje are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Samsun gentler on the wallet β expenses run 12% less than in Skopje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.