Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Kumanovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Kumanovo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,105 per month in Skopje vs $811 in Kumanovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,631 per month in Skopje vs $1,176 in Kumanovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,156 per month in Skopje vs $1,540 in Kumanovo, rent included.

Skopje costs about 36% more than Kumanovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Skopje and Kumanovo are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 18% lower, Kumanovo 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.49 MKD 397
$5.62 MKD 298
33.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.48 MKD 1,830
$28.54 MKD 1,514
20.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.75 MKD 358
$5.01 MKD 266
34.73%
Cappuccino
$2.30 MKD 122
$1.58 MKD 84.0
45.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 MKD 106
$1.66 MKD 87.9
21.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 MKD 68.3
$1.15 MKD 60.8
12.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.60 MKD 138
$1.56 MKD 82.7
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 MKD 175
$1.76 MKD 93.6
87.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 MKD 71.0
$1.25 MKD 66.1
7.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 MKD 41.09
$0.67 MKD 35.35
14.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 MKD 89.2
$1.76 MKD 93.4
-4.55%
Eggs
$2.19 MKD 116
$2.11 MKD 112
3.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.35 MKD 496
$7.18 MKD 381
30.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.76 MKD 412
$7.28 MKD 386
6.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.48 MKD 715
$11.43 MKD 607
17.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.07 MKD 56.7
$0.64 MKD 33.76
67.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 MKD 75.3
$1.37 MKD 72.7
3.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 MKD 73.2
$1.27 MKD 67.1
8.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MKD 110
$1.06 MKD 56.3
96.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 MKD 46.94
$0.94 MKD 49.81
-6.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 MKD 49.41
$0.77 MKD 40.97
20.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 MKD 36.58
$0.54 MKD 28.76
27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MKD 29.71
$0.52 MKD 27.36
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10 MKD 164
$3.06 MKD 163
1.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.29 MKD 387
$7.37 MKD 391
-1.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MKD 59.0
$0.99 MKD 52.3
12.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MKD 80.6
$1.09 MKD 57.7
39.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 MKD 41.46
$0.68 MKD 36.04
14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.09 MKD 1,491
$19.80 MKD 1,050
41.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 MKD 51.1
$1.11 MKD 58.9
-13.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MKD 26.27
$0.53 MKD 28.32
-5.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.68 MKD 407
$6.76 MKD 359
13.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 MKD 78.8
$1.47 MKD 78.1
1.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K MKD 1.8M
$32.0K MKD 1.7M
4.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K MKD 1.5M
$33.6K MKD 1.8M
-13.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 MKD 8,449
$120 MKD 6,387
32.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.34 MKD 973
$16.92 MKD 898
8.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.12 MKD 1,015
$15.39 MKD 816
24.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.05 MKD 2,072
$18.98 MKD 1,007
105.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.56 MKD 932
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 MKD 343
$4.83 MKD 256
33.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$321 MKD 17.0K
$220 MKD 11.7K
46.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,590 MKD 243.5K
$1,180 MKD 62.6K
288.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4 MKD 4,161
$38.25 MKD 2,030
105.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.02 MKD 2,070
$47.45 MKD 2,518
-17.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 MKD 5,328
$74.0 MKD 3,927
35.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MKD 5,970
$46.41 MKD 2,463
142.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$429 MKD 22.7K
$261 MKD 13.8K
64.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 MKD 16.6K
$207 MKD 11.0K
51.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 MKD 34.2K
$559 MKD 29.7K
15.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$455 MKD 24.1K
$314 MKD 16.7K
44.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,768 MKD 146.9K
$1,652 MKD 87.7K
67.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,796 MKD 95.3K
$1,475 MKD 78.3K
21.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$880 MKD 46.7K
$578 MKD 30.6K
52.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.54
4
13.50%

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

Last update for Skopje: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kumanovo: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $261 in Kumanovo. 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 52% 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 $29.00 in Kumanovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $183 – making Kumanovo 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 Kumanovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Skopje and Kumanovo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,105 in Skopje, $811 in Kumanovo – roughly 36% apart. Skopje costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Skopje compared to Kumanovo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,657 per month in Skopje and $1,217 in Kumanovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Skopje and Kumanovo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kumanovo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Skopje or Kumanovo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,105 in Skopje and $811 in Kumanovo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Skopje and Kumanovo?
Public transport costs about 42% less in Kumanovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kumanovo, where all-in costs run around $811, than in Skopje at $1,105. In Kumanovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Skopje and Kumanovo?
It depends on your priorities. Skopje has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $811 in Kumanovo to $1,105 in Skopje. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Skopje or Kumanovo safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Skopje and Kumanovo?
If budget matters most, go with Kumanovo. 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.

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