Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Kavadarci Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Kavadarci

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,112 per month in Skopje vs $792 in Kavadarci, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Skopje vs $1,214 in Kavadarci, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Skopje vs $1,635 in Kavadarci, rent included.

Skopje costs about 40% more than Kavadarci, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Skopje and Kavadarci are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 17% lower, Kavadarci 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.57 MKD 399

$5.66 MKD 298

33.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.02 MKD 1,793

$25.49 MKD 1,343

33.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 MKD 350

$3.64 MKD 192

82.69%

Cappuccino

$2.19 MKD 115

$1.42 MKD 74.8

54.23%

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

$1.94 MKD 102

$1.12 MKD 58.9

73.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MKD 67.5

$0.79 MKD 41.84

62.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 MKD 142

$1.59 MKD 83.6

69.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MKD 183

$2.31 MKD 122

50.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.7

$1.41 MKD 74.1

-4.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MKD 43.38

$0.68 MKD 36.04

20.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MKD 92.4

$1.64 MKD 86.5

6.71%

Eggs

$2.19 MKD 115

$2.12 MKD 112

3.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 MKD 486

$7.11 MKD 375

29.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 MKD 421

$7.07 MKD 373

13.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 MKD 719

$10.64 MKD 561

28.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 MKD 53.4

$0.62 MKD 32.79

62.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 MKD 74.5

$1.39 MKD 73.4

1.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 MKD 69.6

$1.04 MKD 54.7

26.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MKD 115

$1.62 MKD 85.1

33.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 46.57

$0.91 MKD 47.93

-3.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 MKD 48.53

$1.25 MKD 65.7

-26.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MKD 37.43

$0.54 MKD 28.35

31.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.60

$0.41 MKD 21.78

41.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 MKD 166

$2.98 MKD 157

5.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.41 MKD 391

$4.44 MKD 234

66.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MKD 55.9

$0.90 MKD 47.38

17.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MKD 79.8

$1.33 MKD 70.0

13.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 40.44

$0.88 MKD 46.63

-12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.67 MKD 1,458

$20.43 MKD 1,077

35.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MKD 51.5

$1.16 MKD 60.9

-15.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.61

$0.53 MKD 27.75

-7.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.60 MKD 400

$3.75 MKD 198

102.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 MKD 77.3

$1.42 MKD 75.1

3.52%

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

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

$32.6K MKD 1.7M

4.51%

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

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

$25.8K MKD 1.4M

14.59%

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

$160 MKD 8,446

$89.2 MKD 4,701

79.65%

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

$18.34 MKD 966

$17.44 MKD 919

5.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.13 MKD 1,008

$15.28 MKD 805

25.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.37 MKD 2,022

$26.42 MKD 1,392

45.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.56 MKD 925

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 MKD 354

$4.76 MKD 251

41.18%

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

$312 MKD 16.5K

$215 MKD 11.4K

45.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,509 MKD 237.6K

$1,217 MKD 64.1K

270.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 MKD 4,067

$75.3 MKD 3,970

2.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.43 MKD 2,131

$44.21 MKD 2,330

-8.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 MKD 5,275

$75.7 MKD 3,987

32.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,810

$113 MKD 5,974

-2.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 MKD 22.6K

$282 MKD 14.8K

52.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 MKD 16.3K

$195 MKD 10.3K

58.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 MKD 34.0K

$567 MKD 29.9K

13.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 MKD 24.2K

$308 MKD 16.2K

49.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,801 MKD 147.6K

$1,635 MKD 86.1K

71.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,829 MKD 96.4K

$1,271 MKD 67.0K

43.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$913 MKD 48.1K

$610 MKD 32.2K

49.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

7.1

-36.06%

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

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kavadarci: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $282 in Kavadarci. 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 50% 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 $25.00 in Kavadarci. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $177 – making Kavadarci 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 Kavadarci: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Skopje is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,667 per month in Skopje and $1,189 in Kavadarci. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,112 in Skopje and $792 in Kavadarci. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 35% less in Kavadarci. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kavadarci, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Skopje at $1,112. In Kavadarci it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kavadarci – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kavadarci. 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.