Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Abakan Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Abakan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,143 per month in Skopje vs $884 in Abakan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,720 per month in Skopje vs $1,373 in Abakan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,296 per month in Skopje vs $1,862 in Abakan, rent included.

Skopje costs about 29% more than Abakan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Skopje and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 16% lower, Abakan 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.35 MKD 497
$11.07 ₽935
-15.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.06 MKD 1,864
$32.54 ₽2,749
7.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.78 MKD 360
$6.24 ₽527
8.65%
Cappuccino
$2.18 MKD 116
$3.04 ₽257
-28.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 MKD 101
$1.14 ₽95.9
66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 MKD 72.5
$0.59 ₽50.2
130.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 MKD 147
$1.74 ₽147
58.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 MKD 178
$2.81 ₽237
19.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 MKD 67.2
$1.10 ₽93.3
14.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 MKD 43.24
$0.71 ₽59.9
14.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 MKD 101
$1.39 ₽118
35.97%
Eggs
$2.52 MKD 134
$1.45 ₽123
73.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 MKD 452
$11.20 ₽946
-24.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.38 MKD 393
$5.81 ₽491
27.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.17 MKD 807
$11.26 ₽952
34.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.47 MKD 78.1
$1.75 ₽148
-16.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 MKD 75.3
$1.80 ₽152
-21.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 MKD 71.6
$1.78 ₽151
-24.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 MKD 112
$3.65 ₽309
-42.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 MKD 45.28
$0.74 ₽62.5
14.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 MKD 43.02
$0.55 ₽46.30
47.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 MKD 33.94
$1.38 ₽116
-53.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 MKD 32.55
$0.77 ₽65.1
-20.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.47 MKD 184
$2.95 ₽249
17.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 MKD 390
$7.18 ₽607
2.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 MKD 56.2
$1.05 ₽88.7
0.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MKD 81.0
$2.02 ₽170
-24.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 MKD 40.88
$0.43 ₽36.09
79.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.58 MKD 1,520
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 MKD 61.0
$2.27 ₽192
-49.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 MKD 33.22
$0.33 ₽27.59
87.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.97 MKD 424
$6.06 ₽512
31.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 MKD 84.3
$0.79 ₽66.4
101.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K MKD 1.9M
$39.4K ₽3.3M
-6.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K MKD 1.5M
$31.3K ₽2.6M
-9.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 MKD 8,502
$78.1 ₽6,595
104.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.86 MKD 1,003
$9.74 ₽823
93.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.61 MKD 1,043
$8.73 ₽738
124.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.62 MKD 1,947
$35.13 ₽2,968
4.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.67 MKD 940
$21.52 ₽1,818
-17.89%
Cinema Ticket
$7.73 MKD 411
$6.00 ₽507
28.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$364 MKD 19.4K
$330 ₽27.9K
10.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,701 MKD 303.2K
$7,255 ₽613.0K
-21.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4 MKD 4,702
$42.23 ₽3,568
109.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.29 MKD 2,036
$50.1 ₽4,229
-23.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MKD 5,690
$106 ₽8,952
0.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 MKD 6,307
$78.1 ₽6,597
51.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 MKD 23.3K
$341 ₽28.8K
28.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 MKD 17.7K
$239 ₽20.2K
38.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 MKD 40.6K
$527 ₽44.6K
44.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$522 MKD 27.8K
$352 ₽29.8K
48.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,748 MKD 146.1K
$2,655 ₽224.3K
3.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,838 MKD 97.7K
$1,730 ₽146.2K
6.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Abakan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$920 MKD 48.9K
$585 ₽49.5K
57.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
21
-79.86%

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

Last update for Skopje: September 14, 2026

Last update for Abakan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Skopje versus $341 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 57% 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 $35.00 in Skopje versus $33.00 in Abakan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $213 – 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 29%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,715 per month in Skopje and $1,326 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 $1,143 in Skopje and $884 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 $364 per month in Skopje and $330 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 $884, than in Skopje at $1,143. 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.

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