Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Calarasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Calarasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,112 per month in Skopje vs $989 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Skopje vs $1,477 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Skopje vs $1,964 in Calarasi, rent included.

Skopje costs about 12% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Skopje and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 17% lower, Calarasi 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.57 MKD 399

$10.06 RON 45.46

-24.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.02 MKD 1,793

$27.26 RON 123

24.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 MKD 350

$7.71 RON 34.86

-13.75%

Cappuccino

$2.19 MKD 115

$2.65 RON 11.97

-17.36%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 MKD 102

$1.53 RON 6.92

26.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MKD 67.5

$1.79 RON 8.11

-28.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 MKD 142

$2.24 RON 10.12

20.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MKD 183

$3.52 RON 15.91

-1.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.7

$1.34 RON 6.08

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MKD 43.38

$1.09 RON 4.91

-24.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MKD 92.4

$1.77 RON 7.98

-1.13%

Eggs

$2.19 MKD 115

$3.40 RON 15.35

-35.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 MKD 486

$8.50 RON 38.41

8.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 MKD 421

$7.12 RON 32.20

12.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 MKD 719

$9.15 RON 41.35

48.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 MKD 53.4

$1.18 RON 5.31

-14.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 MKD 74.5

$1.47 RON 6.66

-4.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 MKD 69.6

$1.33 RON 6.02

-0.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MKD 115

$1.91 RON 8.62

13.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 46.57

$0.75 RON 3.37

17.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 MKD 48.53

$0.95 RON 4.31

-3.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MKD 37.43

$0.71 RON 3.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.60

$0.80 RON 3.62

-27.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 MKD 166

$5.71 RON 25.79

-44.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.41 MKD 391

$4.48 RON 20.27

65.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MKD 55.9

$0.98 RON 4.45

8.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MKD 79.8

$1.42 RON 6.42

6.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 40.44

$0.45 RON 2.03

71.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.67 MKD 1,458

$14.09 RON 63.7

96.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MKD 51.5

$0.67 RON 3.03

46.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.61

$0.66 RON 2.97

-25.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.60 MKD 400

$5.62 RON 25.39

35.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 MKD 77.3

$1.54 RON 6.98

-4.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

$25.4K RON 114.7K

34.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

$27.4K RON 123.9K

7.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$160 MKD 8,446

$148 RON 669

8.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.34 MKD 966

$8.65 RON 39.09

112.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.13 MKD 1,008

$7.62 RON 34.44

151.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.37 MKD 2,022

$68.6 RON 310

-44.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.56 MKD 925

$19.52 RON 88.2

-10.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 MKD 354

$5.92 RON 26.77

13.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 MKD 16.5K

$424 RON 1,915

-26.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,509 MKD 237.6K

$6,966 RON 31.5K

-35.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 MKD 4,067

$81.3 RON 367

-5.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.43 MKD 2,131

$42.81 RON 194

-5.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 MKD 5,275

$75.6 RON 342

32.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,810

$96.8 RON 437

13.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 MKD 22.6K

$391 RON 1,768

9.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 MKD 16.3K

$228 RON 1,032

35.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 MKD 34.0K

$599 RON 2,709

7.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 MKD 24.2K

$369 RON 1,666

24.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,801 MKD 147.6K

$1,236 RON 5,587

126.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,829 MKD 96.4K

$986 RON 4,458

85.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$913 MKD 48.1K

$773 RON 3,495

18.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

6.62

-31.42%

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

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $391 in Calarasi. 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 18% 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 $27.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $196 – making Calarasi 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 Calarasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,112 in Skopje, $989 in Calarasi – roughly 12% apart. Skopje costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,667 per month in Skopje and $1,484 in Calarasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Skopje and $424 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Skopje, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $989, than in Skopje at $1,112. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Skopje has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $989 in Calarasi to $1,112 in Skopje. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. 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.