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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,094 per month in Skopje vs $808 in Kumanovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,636 per month in Skopje vs $1,202 in Kumanovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Skopje vs $1,596 in Kumanovo, rent included.

Skopje costs about 35% more than Kumanovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Skopje and Kumanovo are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 18% lower, Kumanovo 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.42 MKD 397

$5.79 MKD 310

28.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.79 MKD 1,806

$27.75 MKD 1,483

21.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 MKD 355

$5.12 MKD 273

29.88%

Cappuccino

$2.24 MKD 119

$1.54 MKD 82.5

45.45%

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

$2.04 MKD 109

$1.62 MKD 86.6

25.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 69.1

$1.16 MKD 61.8

11.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 MKD 139

$1.58 MKD 84.6

64.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 MKD 183

$1.73 MKD 92.7

98.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 MKD 68.1

$1.26 MKD 67.2

0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MKD 44.80

$0.62 MKD 33.05

35.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MKD 90.5

$1.77 MKD 94.5

-4.52%

Eggs

$2.17 MKD 116

$2.09 MKD 112

3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 MKD 495

$7.18 MKD 384

28.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.00 MKD 428

$7.04 MKD 376

13.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 MKD 717

$11.30 MKD 604

18.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MKD 54.6

$0.68 MKD 36.12

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MKD 73.0

$1.40 MKD 74.7

-2.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 MKD 73.0

$1.31 MKD 70.3

4.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MKD 111

$1.09 MKD 58.5

90.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 46.92

$0.91 MKD 48.58

-3.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 MKD 51.6

$0.72 MKD 38.30

34.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 MKD 39.00

$0.53 MKD 28.40

37.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MKD 31.42

$0.49 MKD 25.94

20.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 MKD 174

$2.99 MKD 160

9.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.56 MKD 404

$7.24 MKD 387

4.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MKD 56.3

$1.00 MKD 53.6

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 MKD 82.9

$1.04 MKD 55.5

49.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 41.13

$0.67 MKD 35.93

14.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 MKD 1,505

$20.32 MKD 1,086

38.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MKD 52.3

$1.15 MKD 61.6

-14.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MKD 28.28

$0.49 MKD 26.40

8.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 MKD 412

$6.40 MKD 342

20.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 MKD 78.6

$1.49 MKD 79.4

-1.34%

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

$34.2K MKD 1.8M

$31.4K MKD 1.7M

9.03%

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

$29.4K MKD 1.6M

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

-14.47%

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

$160 MKD 8,529

$121 MKD 6,492

31.38%

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

$17.94 MKD 959

$16.67 MKD 891

7.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.42 MKD 1,038

$15.61 MKD 834

24.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.64 MKD 2,065

$18.65 MKD 996

107.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.95 MKD 959

Cinema Ticket

$6.44 MKD 344

$4.76 MKD 254

35.29%

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

$312 MKD 16.7K

$222 MKD 11.9K

40.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,479 MKD 239.3K

$1,183 MKD 63.2K

278.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.2 MKD 4,071

$37.65 MKD 2,012

102.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.60 MKD 2,116

$48.65 MKD 2,600

-18.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 MKD 5,358

$74.4 MKD 3,978

34.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,948

$46.07 MKD 2,462

141.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$422 MKD 22.5K

$260 MKD 13.9K

62.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MKD 16.5K

$208 MKD 11.1K

48.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MKD 34.3K

$566 MKD 30.2K

13.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 MKD 25.0K

$314 MKD 16.8K

48.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,687 MKD 143.6K

$1,620 MKD 86.6K

65.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,745 MKD 93.3K

$1,481 MKD 79.1K

17.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$882 MKD 47.1K

$581 MKD 31.1K

51.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

13.50%

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

Last update for Skopje: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kumanovo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $422 in Skopje versus $260 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 $28.00 in Kumanovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $181 – 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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,094 in Skopje, $808 in Kumanovo – roughly 35% apart. Skopje costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,641 per month in Skopje and $1,212 in Kumanovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,094 in Skopje and $808 in Kumanovo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Kumanovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kumanovo, where all-in costs run around $808, than in Skopje at $1,094. In Kumanovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje 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 $808 in Kumanovo to $1,094 in Skopje. 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 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.