😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,112 in Skopje versus $734 in Maracaibo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,621 in Skopje versus $1,244 in Maracaibo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Skopje versus $1,754 in Maracaibo.
😐Living in Skopje is roughly 52% more expensive than Maracaibo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Skopje17% lower, Maracaibo45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.57MKD 399
$10.37VES 5,777
-27.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.02MKD 1,793
$39.97VES 22.3K
-14.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65MKD 350
$8.82VES 4,915
-24.60%
Cappuccino
$2.19MKD 115
$2.65VES 1,476
-17.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94MKD 102
$1.20VES 671
61.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28MKD 67.5
$1.30VES 724
-1.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70MKD 142
$2.32VES 1,290
16.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47MKD 183
$2.95VES 1,643
17.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34MKD 70.7
$1.79VES 996
-25.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82MKD 43.38
$1.94VES 1,080
-57.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75MKD 92.4
$1.09VES 607
60.55%
Eggs
$2.19MKD 115
$3.19VES 1,775
-31.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22MKD 486
$5.95VES 3,318
54.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99MKD 421
$5.39VES 3,003
48.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63MKD 719
$6.08VES 3,386
124.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01MKD 53.4
$4.51VES 2,513
-77.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41MKD 74.5
$1.38VES 769
2.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32MKD 69.6
$1.71VES 954
-22.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MKD 115
$1.47VES 820
47.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88MKD 46.57
$1.16VES 649
-24.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92MKD 48.53
$1.62VES 905
-43.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71MKD 37.43
$1.01VES 564
-29.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MKD 30.60
$1.60VES 889
-63.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15MKD 166
$3.43VES 1,914
-8.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.41MKD 391
$8.97VES 4,997
-17.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MKD 55.9
$1.06VES 591
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MKD 79.8
$2.64VES 1,473
-42.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MKD 40.44
$0.51VES 287
50.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.67MKD 1,458
$41.83VES 23.3K
-33.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98MKD 51.5
$4.11VES 2,290
-76.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.61
$1.95VES 1,087
-74.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.60MKD 400
$17.77VES 9,900
-57.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 77.3
$0.48VES 269
206.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KMKD 1.8M
$22.2KVES 12.4M
53.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KMKD 1.6M
$31.0KVES 17.3M
-4.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160MKD 8,446
$16.22VES 9,038
888.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.34MKD 966
$9.02VES 5,028
103.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13MKD 1,008
$25.85VES 14.4K
-26.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.37MKD 2,022
$34.34VES 19.1K
11.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.56MKD 925
$23.43VES 13.1K
-25.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72MKD 354
$5.04VES 2,807
33.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312MKD 16.5K
$112VES 62.5K
178.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,509MKD 237.6K
$13.9KVES 7.8M
-67.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2MKD 4,067
$41.75VES 23.3K
84.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43MKD 2,131
$42.17VES 23.5K
-4.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,275
$57.8VES 32.2K
73.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110MKD 5,810
$60.3VES 33.6K
82.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429MKD 22.6K
$180VES 100.5K
138.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310MKD 16.3K
$101VES 56.0K
208.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645MKD 34.0K
$330VES 183.7K
95.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459MKD 24.2K
$209VES 116.6K
119.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,801MKD 147.6K
$759VES 423.0K
269.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,829MKD 96.4K
$502VES 279.5K
264.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$913MKD 48.1K
$196VES 109.5K
364.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.54
26.6
-82.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026
Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Skopje and $180 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skopje pays 365% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Skopje vs $40.00 in Maracaibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $221 per month, with Skopje cheaper across the board.
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 Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maracaibo cheaper than Skopje?
Maracaibo is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Skopje or Maracaibo?
Skopje pays 365% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Skopje and Maracaibo?
Rent for a central apartment: $429 in Skopje versus $180 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $312 in Skopje versus $112 in Maracaibo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Skopje and Maracaibo?
Shoppers in Skopje pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Skopje or Maracaibo?
At $734 in Maracaibo versus $1,112 in Skopje, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maracaibo but tight or insufficient in Skopje. The gap between the two cities makes Maracaibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Skopje or Maracaibo more family-friendly?
For families, Maracaibo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Skopje, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Maracaibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Skopje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.