Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and AbakanCost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Abakan
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,105 per month in Skopje vs $955 in Abakan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,631 per month in Skopje vs $1,415 in Abakan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,156 per month in Skopje vs $1,875 in Abakan, rent included.
😐Skopje costs about 16% more than Abakan, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Skopje and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Skopje18% lower, Abakan29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.49MKD 397
$9.62₽697
-22.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.48MKD 1,830
$19.92₽1,444
73.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.75MKD 358
$6.24₽452
8.17%
Cappuccino
$2.30MKD 122
$2.91₽211
-20.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01MKD 106
$1.23₽89.0
63.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29MKD 68.3
$0.39₽28.13
230.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.60MKD 138
$1.22₽88.5
113.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30MKD 175
$1.30₽94.3
153.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34MKD 71.0
$1.23₽88.9
8.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77MKD 41.09
$0.66₽47.50
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68MKD 89.2
$1.44₽104
16.67%
Eggs
$2.19MKD 116
$1.86₽135
17.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.35MKD 496
$10.67₽773
-12.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.76MKD 412
$4.97₽360
56.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.48MKD 715
$9.05₽656
48.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07MKD 56.7
$1.79₽130
-40.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MKD 75.3
$2.21₽160
-35.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38MKD 73.2
$1.93₽140
-28.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MKD 110
$2.66₽193
-21.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88MKD 46.94
$1.14₽82.7
-22.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93MKD 49.41
$0.72₽51.9
29.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69MKD 36.58
$1.42₽103
-51.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MKD 29.71
$0.71₽51.6
-21.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10MKD 164
$2.88₽209
7.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.29MKD 387
$7.98₽578
-8.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MKD 59.0
$0.99₽72.1
12.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MKD 80.6
$1.95₽141
-22.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78MKD 41.46
$0.37₽26.85
110.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.09MKD 1,491
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96MKD 51.1
$1.30₽94.2
-26.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MKD 26.27
$0.35₽25.60
42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.68MKD 407
$6.18₽448
24.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MKD 78.8
$0.72₽51.9
106.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4KMKD 1.8M
$34.5K₽2.5M
-3.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KMKD 1.5M
$34.9K₽2.5M
-16.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159MKD 8,449
$108₽7,833
47.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.34MKD 973
$5.92₽429
209.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.12MKD 1,015
$7.98₽579
139.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.05MKD 2,072
$34.99₽2,536
11.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.56MKD 932
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.47MKD 343
$5.09₽369
27.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321MKD 17.0K
$328₽23.8K
-2.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,590MKD 243.5K
$7,075₽512.6K
-35.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4MKD 4,161
$50.4₽3,648
55.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.02MKD 2,070
$51.0₽3,698
-23.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,328
$100₽7,248
0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113MKD 5,970
$103₽7,473
9.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429MKD 22.7K
$439₽31.8K
-2.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313MKD 16.6K
$304₽22.1K
2.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645MKD 34.2K
$755₽54.7K
-14.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$455MKD 24.1K
$501₽36.3K
-9.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,768MKD 146.9K
$2,536₽183.8K
9.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,796MKD 95.3K
$1,687₽122.3K
6.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$880MKD 46.7K
$652₽47.2K
35.00%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Abakan: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $439 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 35% 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: $211 vs $203 – 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 16%, 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 $1,657 per month in Skopje and $1,433 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 vs Abakan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,105 in Skopje and $955 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 $321 per month in Skopje and $328 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 Skopje or Abakan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $955, than in Skopje at $1,105. 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.