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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,087 per month in Skopje vs $988 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,634 per month in Skopje vs $1,476 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,180 per month in Skopje vs $1,965 in Calarasi, rent included.

Skopje costs about 10% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Skopje and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 19% lower, Calarasi 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 MKD 407

$9.83 RON 45.08

-22.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.45 MKD 1,794

$27.88 RON 128

19.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 MKD 359

$7.98 RON 36.58

-16.04%

Cappuccino

$2.27 MKD 122

$2.69 RON 12.34

-15.61%

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

$2.03 MKD 109

$1.53 RON 7.01

32.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 69.2

$1.79 RON 8.23

-27.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 MKD 143

$2.28 RON 10.45

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 MKD 180

$3.38 RON 15.51

-0.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 69.4

$1.36 RON 6.23

-5.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 MKD 40.80

$1.10 RON 5.03

-30.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MKD 89.6

$1.69 RON 7.74

-1.18%

Eggs

$2.21 MKD 119

$3.25 RON 14.92

-32.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.13 MKD 490

$8.56 RON 39.28

6.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.78 MKD 417

$6.94 RON 31.81

12.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.71 MKD 735

$9.17 RON 42.04

49.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 MKD 57.1

$1.18 RON 5.40

-10.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 76.8

$1.46 RON 6.70

-2.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 72.5

$1.33 RON 6.11

1.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MKD 116

$1.98 RON 9.10

9.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 47.75

$0.80 RON 3.68

11.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 MKD 48.45

$0.95 RON 4.37

-5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 MKD 36.92

$0.71 RON 3.25

-2.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 29.70

$0.80 RON 3.69

-31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 MKD 170

$5.69 RON 26.08

-44.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.26 MKD 389

$4.32 RON 19.82

68.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MKD 57.2

$0.89 RON 4.10

20.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MKD 81.5

$1.37 RON 6.28

10.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MKD 40.94

$0.44 RON 2.04

72.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.58 MKD 1,533

$13.57 RON 62.2

110.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MKD 51.6

$0.71 RON 3.26

35.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MKD 26.01

$0.64 RON 2.94

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.41 MKD 397

$5.81 RON 26.64

27.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 79.7

$1.60 RON 7.32

-6.88%

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

$33.7K MKD 1.8M

$24.7K RON 113.3K

36.25%

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

$29.3K MKD 1.6M

$26.9K RON 123.3K

8.90%

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

$160 MKD 8,574

$148 RON 680

7.75%

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

$18.05 MKD 968

$8.24 RON 37.77

119.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.13 MKD 1,026

$7.53 RON 34.54

154.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.66 MKD 2,074

$69.8 RON 320

-44.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.36 MKD 931

$18.92 RON 86.8

-8.25%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 MKD 355

$6.01 RON 27.58

10.15%

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

$320 MKD 17.2K

$434 RON 1,989

-26.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 MKD 249.0K

$6,908 RON 31.7K

-32.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.5 MKD 4,157

$82.5 RON 378

-6.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.16 MKD 2,154

$42.72 RON 196

-5.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 MKD 5,364

$75.5 RON 346

32.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,913

$99.8 RON 458

10.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 MKD 22.8K

$383 RON 1,754

10.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 MKD 16.6K

$231 RON 1,058

34.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 MKD 34.6K

$579 RON 2,656

11.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 MKD 24.8K

$364 RON 1,671

27.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,731 MKD 146.5K

$1,240 RON 5,688

120.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,740 MKD 93.3K

$984 RON 4,514

76.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$886 MKD 47.5K

$741 RON 3,396

19.62%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Skopje versus $383 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 20% 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 $33.00 in Skopje versus $28.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $195 – 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: $1,087 in Skopje, $988 in Calarasi – roughly 10% apart. Skopje costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,631 per month in Skopje and $1,481 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 $320 per month in Skopje and $434 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 $988, than in Skopje at $1,087. 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 $988 in Calarasi to $1,087 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.