Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and AbakanCost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Abakan
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,094 per month in Skopje vs $969 in Abakan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,636 per month in Skopje vs $1,449 in Abakan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Skopje vs $1,929 in Abakan, rent included.
😐Skopje costs about 13% more than Abakan, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Skopje and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Skopje18% lower, Abakan27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42MKD 397
$9.34₽743
-20.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.79MKD 1,806
$19.80₽1,576
70.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65MKD 355
$6.51₽518
2.15%
Cappuccino
$2.24MKD 119
$2.79₽222
-19.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04MKD 109
$1.23₽98.2
65.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29MKD 69.1
$0.38₽30.59
239.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.60MKD 139
$1.19₽95.1
118.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43MKD 183
$1.28₽102
167.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27MKD 68.1
$1.22₽97.3
4.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84MKD 44.80
$0.66₽52.7
27.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69MKD 90.5
$1.42₽113
19.01%
Eggs
$2.17MKD 116
$1.78₽142
21.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.26MKD 495
$10.72₽853
-13.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.00MKD 428
$4.93₽392
62.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41MKD 717
$8.89₽708
50.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02MKD 54.6
$1.78₽142
-42.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MKD 73.0
$2.19₽175
-37.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37MKD 73.0
$1.99₽159
-31.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MKD 111
$2.69₽214
-22.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88MKD 46.92
$1.15₽91.6
-23.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97MKD 51.6
$0.72₽57.6
34.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73MKD 39.00
$1.39₽111
-47.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MKD 31.42
$0.72₽57.4
-18.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.26MKD 174
$2.91₽232
12.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.56MKD 404
$10.33₽822
-26.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MKD 56.3
$1.00₽79.4
5.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55MKD 82.9
$1.88₽150
-17.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MKD 41.13
$0.35₽27.52
120.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.16MKD 1,505
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98MKD 52.3
$1.29₽103
-24.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53MKD 28.28
$0.35₽28.12
51.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.71MKD 412
$6.45₽513
19.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 78.6
$0.71₽56.8
107.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KMKD 1.8M
$34.4K₽2.7M
-0.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KMKD 1.6M
$35.3K₽2.8M
-16.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160MKD 8,529
$109₽8,696
46.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.94MKD 959
$6.00₽478
199.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.42MKD 1,038
$7.77₽618
149.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.64MKD 2,065
$35.08₽2,792
10.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.95MKD 959
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.44MKD 344
$5.02₽400
28.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312MKD 16.7K
$322₽25.6K
-2.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,479MKD 239.3K
$6,987₽556.1K
-35.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.2MKD 4,071
$50.5₽4,015
51.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.60MKD 2,116
$50.9₽4,049
-22.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,358
$101₽8,020
-0.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111MKD 5,948
$103₽8,166
8.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$422MKD 22.5K
$445₽35.4K
-5.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309MKD 16.5K
$301₽24.0K
2.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$641MKD 34.3K
$777₽61.8K
-17.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467MKD 25.0K
$506₽40.2K
-7.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,687MKD 143.6K
$1,762₽140.2K
52.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,745MKD 93.3K
$1,410₽112.2K
23.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$882MKD 47.1K
$619₽49.2K
42.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.54
15.33
-70.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Skopje: July 27, 2026
Last update for Abakan: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $422 in Skopje versus $445 in Abakan. 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 43% 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 Skopje versus $20.00 in Abakan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $207 – making Abakan 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
Skopje vs Abakan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abakan cheaper than Skopje?
Yes – Skopje is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,641 per month in Skopje and $1,454 in Abakan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abakan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Skopje and in Abakan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,094 in Skopje and $969 in Abakan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Skopje and $322 in Abakan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Skopje or in Abakan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $969, than in Skopje at $1,094. In Abakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Skopje or Abakan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abakan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abakan. 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.