Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Makhachkala Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Makhachkala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,182 per month in Skopje vs $676 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,723 per month in Skopje vs $1,184 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,263 per month in Skopje vs $1,692 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Skopje costs about 75% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Skopje and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 14% lower, Makhachkala 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 MKD 511

$11.78 ₽990

-17.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.37 MKD 1,816

$34.92 ₽2,935

-1.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 MKD 351

$4.61 ₽387

44.25%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MKD 118

$2.69 ₽227

-17.10%

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

$1.86 MKD 98.5

$0.75 ₽63.2

148.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MKD 67.6

$0.32 ₽27.06

300.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 MKD 148

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 MKD 172

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 MKD 70.4

$1.39 ₽117

-4.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 MKD 41.46

$0.48 ₽40.59

62.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 MKD 102

$1.14 ₽95.7

70.18%

Eggs

$2.47 MKD 131

$1.50 ₽126

64.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.73 MKD 461

$8.31 ₽699

5.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.49 MKD 396

$6.12 ₽514

22.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.07 MKD 796

$7.80 ₽656

93.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 MKD 80.7

$1.25 ₽105

22.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MKD 79.0

$1.79 ₽150

-16.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 MKD 73.0

$2.16 ₽182

-36.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MKD 110

$2.97 ₽249

-29.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 MKD 48.78

$0.77 ₽64.5

19.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 44.24

$0.45 ₽38.17

86.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 MKD 32.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MKD 30.31

$0.88 ₽74.4

-35.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.63 MKD 192

$2.85 ₽239

27.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.37 MKD 389

$3.50 ₽294

110.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MKD 57.5

$0.51 ₽43.00

113.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 MKD 82.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 MKD 42.10

$0.36 ₽29.87

122.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.14 MKD 1,487

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 58.4

$2.34 ₽197

-52.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 MKD 35.75

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.98 MKD 422

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MKD 81.2

$0.76 ₽63.6

102.63%

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

$37.0K MKD 2.0M

$32.1K ₽2.7M

15.40%

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

$28.4K MKD 1.5M

$28.5K ₽2.4M

-0.24%

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

$168 MKD 8,854

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

$19.55 MKD 1,033

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.73 MKD 1,042

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.05 MKD 2,010

$54.4 ₽4,575

-30.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.83 MKD 942

Cinema Ticket

$7.13 MKD 377

$4.52 ₽380

57.74%

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

$389 MKD 20.5K

$205 ₽17.3K

89.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,501 MKD 290.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 MKD 4,837

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.71 MKD 2,098

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MKD 5,629

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,023

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 MKD 23.4K

$381 ₽32.0K

16.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 MKD 17.9K

$295 ₽24.8K

14.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$750 MKD 39.6K

$861 ₽72.4K

-12.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 MKD 28.3K

$661 ₽55.6K

-19.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,778 MKD 146.8K

$1,475 ₽124.0K

88.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,892 MKD 99.9K

$1,080 ₽90.7K

75.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$906 MKD 47.9K

$591 ₽49.7K

53.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

-76.39%

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

Last update for Skopje: September 6, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Skopje versus $381 in Makhachkala. 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 53% 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 $35.00 in Makhachkala. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Skopje vs $172 in Makhachkala – so Makhachkala wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Skopje is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,774 per month in Skopje and $1,014 in Makhachkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, 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 $1,182 in Skopje and $676 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $389 per month in Skopje and $205 in Makhachkala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $676, than in Skopje at $1,182. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. 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.