Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,112 per month in Skopje vs $1,137 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Skopje vs $1,720 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Skopje vs $2,303 in Iasi, rent included.

Skopje is about 2% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Skopje and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 17% lower, Iasi 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.57 MKD 399

$10.52 RON 47.59

-28.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.02 MKD 1,791

$51.4 RON 232

-33.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 MKD 350

$6.73 RON 30.46

-1.19%

Cappuccino

$2.19 MKD 115

$2.68 RON 12.13

-18.28%

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

$1.94 MKD 102

$2.08 RON 9.39

-6.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MKD 67.5

$1.74 RON 7.88

-26.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 MKD 142

$2.46 RON 11.12

9.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MKD 183

$3.42 RON 15.47

1.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.6

$1.40 RON 6.33

-4.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MKD 43.34

$1.22 RON 5.51

-32.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MKD 92.4

$1.87 RON 8.45

-6.42%

Eggs

$2.19 MKD 115

$3.21 RON 14.51

-31.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 MKD 485

$7.95 RON 35.98

15.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 MKD 421

$6.70 RON 30.32

19.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 MKD 718

$10.99 RON 49.71

24.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 MKD 53.3

$1.24 RON 5.61

-18.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 MKD 74.4

$1.62 RON 7.33

-12.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 MKD 69.6

$1.73 RON 7.84

-23.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MKD 114

$1.97 RON 8.90

10.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 46.53

$0.99 RON 4.48

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 MKD 48.49

$1.05 RON 4.73

-12.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MKD 37.39

$1.04 RON 4.68

-31.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.57

$0.86 RON 3.89

-32.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 MKD 166

$6.37 RON 28.85

-50.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.41 MKD 390

$6.61 RON 29.92

12.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MKD 55.8

$1.09 RON 4.95

-2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MKD 79.7

$1.98 RON 8.96

-23.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 40.40

$0.85 RON 3.84

-9.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.67 MKD 1,457

$27.13 RON 123

1.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MKD 51.4

$0.89 RON 4.03

10.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.59

$0.70 RON 3.16

-30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.60 MKD 400

$7.84 RON 35.48

-3.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 MKD 77.3

$1.66 RON 7.51

-11.45%

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

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

$28.5K RON 129.2K

19.24%

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

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

$27.3K RON 123.7K

8.23%

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

$160 MKD 8,438

$156 RON 708

2.51%

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

$18.34 MKD 965

$8.47 RON 38.35

116.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.13 MKD 1,007

$10.21 RON 46.22

87.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.37 MKD 2,020

$47.10 RON 213

-18.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.56 MKD 925

$18.25 RON 82.6

-3.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 MKD 354

$8.17 RON 36.99

-17.75%

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

$312 MKD 16.4K

$463 RON 2,095

-32.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,509 MKD 237.4K

$7,028 RON 31.8K

-35.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 MKD 4,063

$62.3 RON 282

23.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.43 MKD 2,129

$42.79 RON 194

-5.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 MKD 5,270

$86.4 RON 391

15.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,804

$86.9 RON 393

26.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 MKD 22.6K

$474 RON 2,147

-9.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 MKD 16.3K

$361 RON 1,635

-14.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 MKD 34.0K

$750 RON 3,395

-14.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 MKD 24.1K

$550 RON 2,491

-16.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,801 MKD 147.5K

$3,076 RON 13.9K

-8.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,829 MKD 96.3K

$1,997 RON 9,036

-8.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$913 MKD 48.1K

$1,191 RON 5,389

-23.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

7.37

-38.40%

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

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Last update for Iasi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $474 in Iasi. 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 30% higher in Iasi, 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 $51.0 in Iasi. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Skopje vs $212 in Iasi – so Iasi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,112 in Skopje, $1,137 in Iasi – roughly 2% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,667 per month in Skopje and $1,706 in Iasi. 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.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Skopje. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Skopje and $463 in Iasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,112, than in Iasi at $1,137. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi 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 $1,112 in Skopje to $1,137 in Iasi. 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 Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iasi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.