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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,168 per month in Skopje vs $901 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,738 per month in Skopje vs $1,391 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,308 per month in Skopje vs $1,881 in Calarasi, rent included.

Skopje costs about 30% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Skopje and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 15% lower, Calarasi 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.46 MKD 499

$7.66 RON 34.63

23.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.97 MKD 1,793

$27.04 RON 122

25.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 MKD 355

$8.11 RON 36.62

-17.02%

Cappuccino

$2.13 MKD 113

$2.14 RON 9.69

-0.47%

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

$1.88 MKD 99.1

$1.45 RON 6.54

29.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 MKD 68.7

$1.82 RON 8.23

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 MKD 146

$1.07 RON 4.84

158.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 MKD 166

$1.51 RON 6.82

108.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 68.1

$1.59 RON 7.20

-18.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MKD 43.13

$0.94 RON 4.26

-12.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MKD 100

$1.62 RON 7.30

17.28%

Eggs

$2.47 MKD 130

$2.99 RON 13.53

-17.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.81 MKD 465

$8.38 RON 37.85

5.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.56 MKD 399

$4.31 RON 19.47

75.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.11 MKD 797

$8.58 RON 38.76

76.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 MKD 78.0

$1.14 RON 5.16

29.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MKD 79.1

$1.48 RON 6.69

1.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 MKD 72.7

$1.32 RON 5.95

4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MKD 109

$1.58 RON 7.13

30.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 46.31

$0.42 RON 1.89

109.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 44.23

$0.64 RON 2.91

31.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 MKD 34.17

$0.45 RON 2.04

44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.81

$0.82 RON 3.69

-29.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.66 MKD 193

$6.73 RON 30.39

-45.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.47 MKD 394

$4.32 RON 19.50

72.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MKD 55.1

$1.03 RON 4.67

0.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 MKD 83.5

$1.51 RON 6.82

4.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MKD 41.28

$0.45 RON 2.04

73.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.82 MKD 1,468

$13.12 RON 59.3

112.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 MKD 59.1

$0.67 RON 3.04

67.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 MKD 35.49

$0.64 RON 2.89

4.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 MKD 416

$6.78 RON 30.63

16.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 MKD 85.3

$1.76 RON 7.93

-7.95%

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

$37.5K MKD 2.0M

$29.7K RON 134.2K

26.11%

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

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

$26.6K RON 120.4K

4.90%

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

$166 MKD 8,735

$165 RON 746

0.32%

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

$19.14 MKD 1,010

$6.77 RON 30.56

182.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.69 MKD 1,039

$6.93 RON 31.29

184.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 MKD 2,036

$49.67 RON 224

-22.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.23 MKD 962

$55.7 RON 251

-67.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.31 MKD 386

$8.95 RON 40.43

-18.32%

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

$390 MKD 20.6K

$423 RON 1,909

-7.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,550 MKD 292.9K

$6,032 RON 27.3K

-7.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.6 MKD 4,727

$76.0 RON 344

17.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 MKD 2,119

$22.21 RON 100

80.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MKD 5,671

$96.2 RON 434

11.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 MKD 6,142

$99.4 RON 449

17.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 MKD 23.5K

$330 RON 1,493

34.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 MKD 17.8K

$201 RON 909

67.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 MKD 40.3K

$448 RON 2,025

70.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 MKD 28.0K

$336 RON 1,519

57.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,710 MKD 143.0K

$1,240 RON 5,601

118.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,869 MKD 98.6K

$969 RON 4,378

92.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$896 MKD 47.3K

$773 RON 3,493

15.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

7.85

-45.86%

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

Last update for Skopje: August 29, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Skopje versus $330 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 16% 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: $218 vs $175 – 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: $1,168 in Skopje, $901 in Calarasi – roughly 30% apart. Skopje costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,752 per month in Skopje and $1,352 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 $390 per month in Skopje and $423 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $901, than in Skopje at $1,168. 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 $901 in Calarasi to $1,168 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.