Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Cartagena Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Cartagena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,182 per month in Skopje vs $1,259 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,723 per month in Skopje vs $2,096 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,263 per month in Skopje vs $2,934 in Cartagena, rent included.

Skopje is about 6% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Skopje and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 14% lower, Cartagena 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 MKD 511

$5.16 COP 15.9K

87.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.37 MKD 1,816

$137 COP 420.4K

-74.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 MKD 351

$10.07 COP 31.0K

-33.96%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MKD 118

$3.65 COP 11.2K

-38.90%

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

$1.86 MKD 98.5

$1.87 COP 5,762

-0.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MKD 67.6

$1.89 COP 5,823

-32.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 MKD 148

$1.95 COP 5,995

44.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 MKD 172

$4.75 COP 14.6K

-31.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 MKD 70.4

$1.93 COP 5,947

-31.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 MKD 41.46

$2.94 COP 9,041

-73.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 MKD 102

$1.44 COP 4,426

34.72%

Eggs

$2.47 MKD 131

$4.97 COP 15.3K

-50.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.73 MKD 461

$13.52 COP 41.6K

-35.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.49 MKD 396

$17.48 COP 53.8K

-57.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.07 MKD 796

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 MKD 80.7

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MKD 79.0

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 MKD 73.0

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MKD 110

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 MKD 48.78

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 44.24

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 MKD 32.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MKD 30.31

$2.06 COP 6,340

-72.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.63 MKD 192

Wine (Bottle)

$7.37 MKD 389

$14.62 COP 45.0K

-49.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MKD 57.5

$1.42 COP 4,370

-23.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 MKD 82.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 MKD 42.10

$1.21 COP 3,734

-33.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.14 MKD 1,487

$58.9 COP 181.2K

-52.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 58.4

$4.82 COP 14.8K

-76.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 MKD 35.75

$3.88 COP 11.9K

-82.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.98 MKD 422

$9.46 COP 29.1K

-15.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MKD 81.2

$1.32 COP 4,048

16.67%

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

$37.0K MKD 2.0M

$24.0K COP 73.8M

54.37%

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

$28.4K MKD 1.5M

$35.0K COP 107.8M

-18.94%

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

$168 MKD 8,854

$79.9 COP 245.9K

109.76%

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

$19.55 MKD 1,033

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.73 MKD 1,042

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.05 MKD 2,010

$90.7 COP 279.0K

-58.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.83 MKD 942

Cinema Ticket

$7.13 MKD 377

$8.28 COP 25.5K

-13.89%

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

$389 MKD 20.5K

$646 COP 2.0M

-39.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,501 MKD 290.6K

$5,928 COP 18.2M

-7.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 MKD 4,837

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.71 MKD 2,098

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MKD 5,629

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,023

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 MKD 23.4K

$1,058 COP 3.3M

-58.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 MKD 17.9K

$586 COP 1.8M

-42.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$750 MKD 39.6K

$2,336 COP 7.2M

-67.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 MKD 28.3K

$978 COP 3.0M

-45.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,778 MKD 146.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,892 MKD 99.9K

$945 COP 2.9M

100.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$906 MKD 47.9K

$476 COP 1.5M

90.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

-71.67%

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

Last update for Skopje: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Skopje versus $1,058 in Cartagena. 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 90% higher in Skopje, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Skopje versus $137 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $263 – making Skopje 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 Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 6% more than Skopje, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,774 per month in Skopje and $1,888 in Cartagena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $389 per month in Skopje and $646 in Cartagena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Cartagena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,182, than in Cartagena at $1,259. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skopje costs $1,182 versus $1,259 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.