😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,182 in Skopje versus $783 in Maracaibo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,723 in Skopje versus $1,303 in Maracaibo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,263 in Skopje versus $1,823 in Maracaibo.
🌍Living in Skopje is roughly 51% more expensive than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Skopje14% lower, Maracaibo43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.68MKD 511
$10.44VES 8,665
-7.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.37MKD 1,816
$40.65VES 33.8K
-15.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65MKD 351
$9.04VES 7,510
-26.44%
Cappuccino
$2.23MKD 118
$2.67VES 2,219
-16.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86MKD 98.5
$1.14VES 944
63.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28MKD 67.6
$1.33VES 1,106
-3.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.81MKD 148
$2.24VES 1,858
25.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25MKD 172
$2.92VES 2,428
11.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MKD 70.4
$1.78VES 1,476
-25.28%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78MKD 41.46
$2.11VES 1,750
-63.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94MKD 102
$1.03VES 856
88.35%
Eggs
$2.47MKD 131
$3.73VES 3,101
-33.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.73MKD 461
$6.70VES 5,560
30.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.49MKD 396
$6.47VES 5,370
15.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.07MKD 796
$7.47VES 6,199
101.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53MKD 80.7
$4.72VES 3,916
-67.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MKD 79.0
$1.37VES 1,135
9.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38MKD 73.0
$1.55VES 1,290
-10.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MKD 110
$1.41VES 1,174
47.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92MKD 48.78
$1.23VES 1,021
-25.20%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84MKD 44.24
$1.75VES 1,449
-52.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62MKD 32.51
$0.98VES 810
-36.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MKD 30.31
$2.03VES 1,684
-71.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63MKD 192
$2.97VES 2,464
22.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.37MKD 389
$8.97VES 7,447
-17.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MKD 57.5
$1.09VES 903
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MKD 82.3
$2.61VES 2,171
-40.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.80MKD 42.10
$0.43VES 360
86.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.14MKD 1,487
$41.84VES 34.7K
-32.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11MKD 58.4
$4.11VES 3,416
-72.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68MKD 35.75
$2.04VES 1,692
-66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.98MKD 422
$17.34VES 14.4K
-53.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MKD 81.2
$0.66VES 546
133.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0KMKD 2.0M
$14.9KVES 12.4M
148.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KMKD 1.5M
$28.5KVES 23.7M
-0.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$168MKD 8,854
$63.0VES 52.3K
166.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.55MKD 1,033
$7.31VES 6,072
167.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.73MKD 1,042
$25.06VES 20.8K
-21.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.05MKD 2,010
$33.94VES 28.2K
12.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.83MKD 942
$28.21VES 23.4K
-36.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MKD 377
$5.07VES 4,211
40.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$389MKD 20.5K
$153VES 127.0K
154.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,501MKD 290.6K
$7,201VES 6.0M
-23.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.6MKD 4,837
$27.67VES 23.0K
230.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.71MKD 2,098
$32.17VES 26.7K
23.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MKD 5,629
$61.3VES 50.9K
73.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114MKD 6,023
$57.5VES 47.8K
98.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$443MKD 23.4K
$162VES 134.8K
172.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339MKD 17.9K
$93.1VES 77.3K
263.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750MKD 39.6K
$298VES 247.4K
151.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$535MKD 28.3K
$197VES 163.4K
172.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,778MKD 146.8K
$743VES 616.6K
274.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,892MKD 99.9K
$506VES 420.6K
273.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Maracaibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$906MKD 47.9K
$200VES 166.3K
352.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
20
-78.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Skopje: September 6, 2026
Last update for Maracaibo: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Skopje and $162 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skopje pays 352% 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 $41.00 in Maracaibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $242 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 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Skopje or Maracaibo?
Average pay runs 352% higher in Skopje, 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: $443 in Skopje versus $162 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $389 in Skopje versus $153 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 in Maracaibo?
Shoppers in Skopje pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Skopje or in Maracaibo?
At $783 in Maracaibo versus $1,182 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 51% less than in Skopje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.