😐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 – Skopje18% lower, Kumanovo40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.49MKD 397
$5.62MKD 298
33.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.48MKD 1,830
$28.54MKD 1,514
20.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.75MKD 358
$5.01MKD 266
34.73%
Cappuccino
$2.30MKD 122
$1.58MKD 84.0
45.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01MKD 106
$1.66MKD 87.9
21.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29MKD 68.3
$1.15MKD 60.8
12.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.60MKD 138
$1.56MKD 82.7
66.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30MKD 175
$1.76MKD 93.6
87.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34MKD 71.0
$1.25MKD 66.1
7.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77MKD 41.09
$0.67MKD 35.35
14.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68MKD 89.2
$1.76MKD 93.4
-4.55%
Eggs
$2.19MKD 116
$2.11MKD 112
3.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.35MKD 496
$7.18MKD 381
30.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.76MKD 412
$7.28MKD 386
6.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.48MKD 715
$11.43MKD 607
17.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07MKD 56.7
$0.64MKD 33.76
67.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MKD 75.3
$1.37MKD 72.7
3.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38MKD 73.2
$1.27MKD 67.1
8.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MKD 110
$1.06MKD 56.3
96.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88MKD 46.94
$0.94MKD 49.81
-6.38%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93MKD 49.41
$0.77MKD 40.97
20.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69MKD 36.58
$0.54MKD 28.76
27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MKD 29.71
$0.52MKD 27.36
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10MKD 164
$3.06MKD 163
1.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.29MKD 387
$7.37MKD 391
-1.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MKD 59.0
$0.99MKD 52.3
12.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MKD 80.6
$1.09MKD 57.7
39.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78MKD 41.46
$0.68MKD 36.04
14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.09MKD 1,491
$19.80MKD 1,050
41.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96MKD 51.1
$1.11MKD 58.9
-13.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MKD 26.27
$0.53MKD 28.32
-5.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.68MKD 407
$6.76MKD 359
13.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MKD 78.8
$1.47MKD 78.1
1.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4KMKD 1.8M
$32.0KMKD 1.7M
4.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KMKD 1.5M
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
-13.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159MKD 8,449
$120MKD 6,387
32.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.34MKD 973
$16.92MKD 898
8.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.12MKD 1,015
$15.39MKD 816
24.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.05MKD 2,072
$18.98MKD 1,007
105.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.56MKD 932
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.47MKD 343
$4.83MKD 256
33.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321MKD 17.0K
$220MKD 11.7K
46.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,590MKD 243.5K
$1,180MKD 62.6K
288.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4MKD 4,161
$38.25MKD 2,030
105.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.02MKD 2,070
$47.45MKD 2,518
-17.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,328
$74.0MKD 3,927
35.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113MKD 5,970
$46.41MKD 2,463
142.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429MKD 22.7K
$261MKD 13.8K
64.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313MKD 16.6K
$207MKD 11.0K
51.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645MKD 34.2K
$559MKD 29.7K
15.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$455MKD 24.1K
$314MKD 16.7K
44.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,768MKD 146.9K
$1,652MKD 87.7K
67.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,796MKD 95.3K
$1,475MKD 78.3K
21.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$880MKD 46.7K
$578MKD 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.