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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,105 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 – Skopje 18% lower, Abakan 29% lower.

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

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