😐A single person spends $1,143 per month in Skopje vs $815 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,720 per month in Skopje vs $1,181 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,296 per month in Skopje vs $1,547 in Kumanovo, rent included.
😐Skopje costs about 40% more than Kumanovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Skopje and Kumanovo are more affordable than the global median – Skopje16% lower, Kumanovo40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.35MKD 497
$6.71MKD 357
39.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.06MKD 1,864
$28.61MKD 1,522
22.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.78MKD 360
$6.81MKD 362
-0.44%
Cappuccino
$2.18MKD 116
$1.51MKD 80.1
44.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90MKD 101
$1.42MKD 75.8
33.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36MKD 72.5
$1.10MKD 58.2
23.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76MKD 147
$1.58MKD 84.3
74.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35MKD 178
$1.75MKD 93.2
91.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26MKD 67.2
$1.26MKD 67.2
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.81MKD 43.24
$0.71MKD 37.75
14.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MKD 101
$1.91MKD 102
-1.05%
Eggs
$2.52MKD 134
$2.42MKD 129
4.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MKD 452
$8.59MKD 457
-1.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38MKD 393
$7.62MKD 405
-3.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.17MKD 807
$11.84MKD 630
28.13%
Apples(1kg)
$1.47MKD 78.1
$1.01MKD 53.6
45.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MKD 75.3
$1.39MKD 73.9
2.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MKD 71.6
$1.35MKD 71.8
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10MKD 112
$1.78MKD 94.7
17.98%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85MKD 45.28
$0.84MKD 44.81
1.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81MKD 43.02
$0.80MKD 42.65
1.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64MKD 33.94
$0.55MKD 28.99
16.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61MKD 32.55
$0.58MKD 31.10
5.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.47MKD 184
$3.06MKD 163
13.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33MKD 390
$7.66MKD 407
-4.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MKD 56.2
$1.04MKD 55.2
1.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MKD 81.0
$1.03MKD 55.0
47.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MKD 40.88
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.58MKD 1,520
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MKD 61.0
$1.11MKD 59.1
3.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62MKD 33.22
$0.63MKD 33.36
-1.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.97MKD 424
$6.00MKD 319
32.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MKD 84.3
$1.42MKD 75.5
11.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7KMKD 1.9M
$36.0KMKD 1.9M
1.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KMKD 1.5M
$28.8KMKD 1.5M
-1.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160MKD 8,502
$132MKD 7,008
21.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.86MKD 1,003
$17.20MKD 914
9.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.61MKD 1,043
$19.59MKD 1,042
0.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.62MKD 1,947
$28.45MKD 1,513
28.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.67MKD 940
$18.47MKD 982
-4.33%
Cinema Ticket
$7.73MKD 411
$5.55MKD 295
39.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$364MKD 19.4K
$369MKD 19.6K
-1.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,701MKD 303.2K
$5,807MKD 308.8K
-1.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4MKD 4,702
$44.36MKD 2,359
99.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.29MKD 2,036
$20.66MKD 1,099
85.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MKD 5,690
$85.0MKD 4,518
25.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119MKD 6,307
$50.8MKD 2,701
133.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$439MKD 23.3K
$248MKD 13.2K
76.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$332MKD 17.7K
$202MKD 10.7K
64.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$763MKD 40.6K
$435MKD 23.2K
75.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$522MKD 27.8K
$248MKD 13.2K
110.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,748MKD 146.1K
$1,641MKD 87.2K
67.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,838MKD 97.7K
$1,488MKD 79.1K
23.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Kumanovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$920MKD 48.9K
$570MKD 30.3K
61.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.23
4
5.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Skopje: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kumanovo: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Skopje versus $248 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 61% 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 $35.00 in Skopje versus $29.00 in Kumanovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $200 – 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 in Kumanovo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,143 in Skopje, $815 in Kumanovo – roughly 40% 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 $1,715 per month in Skopje and $1,223 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 $1,143 in Skopje and $815 in Kumanovo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Skopje and Kumanovo?
Kindergarten costs $364 per month in Skopje and $369 in Kumanovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
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 $815, than in Skopje at $1,143. 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 $815 in Kumanovo to $1,143 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.