Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Ohrid Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Ohrid

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,083 per month in Skopje vs $924 in Ohrid, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,616 per month in Skopje vs $1,506 in Ohrid, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,149 per month in Skopje vs $2,088 in Ohrid, rent included.

Skopje costs about 17% more than Ohrid, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Skopje and Ohrid are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 19% lower, Ohrid 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.47 MKD 394

$7.29 MKD 385

2.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.48 MKD 1,818

$33.29 MKD 1,755

3.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.60 MKD 348

$6.58 MKD 347

0.30%

Cappuccino

$2.29 MKD 121

$2.22 MKD 117

3.15%

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

$1.96 MKD 103

$1.97 MKD 104

-0.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 68.0

$1.28 MKD 67.4

0.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 MKD 135

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 MKD 174

$3.40 MKD 179

-2.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.5

$1.29 MKD 67.9

3.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 MKD 40.43

$0.83 MKD 43.59

-7.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MKD 89.1

$1.74 MKD 91.7

-2.87%

Eggs

$2.25 MKD 118

$2.25 MKD 119

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.97 MKD 473

$8.52 MKD 449

5.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.11 MKD 428

$8.08 MKD 426

0.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 MKD 733

$13.53 MKD 713

2.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MKD 54.0

$1.02 MKD 53.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.9

$1.41 MKD 74.3

-3.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.9

$1.37 MKD 72.4

-0.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 MKD 114

$2.06 MKD 108

4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 44.15

$0.82 MKD 43.00

2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 51.8

$0.98 MKD 51.5

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MKD 37.48

$0.71 MKD 37.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 29.19

$0.59 MKD 30.90

-6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 MKD 169

$3.11 MKD 164

2.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.53 MKD 397

$5.62 MKD 296

33.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MKD 55.6

$1.11 MKD 58.4

-5.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 MKD 83.1

$1.36 MKD 71.9

16.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MKD 40.93

$1.10 MKD 57.9

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 MKD 1,493

$21.21 MKD 1,118

33.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 MKD 48.28

$0.95 MKD 50.3

-3.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MKD 26.25

$0.52 MKD 27.64

-3.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 MKD 386

$7.53 MKD 397

-2.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MKD 81.0

$1.46 MKD 77.1

5.48%

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

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

$33.4K MKD 1.8M

3.04%

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

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

$29.0K MKD 1.5M

3.13%

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

$160 MKD 8,457

$160 MKD 8,425

0.39%

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

$18.02 MKD 950

$18.18 MKD 959

-0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.00 MKD 1,002

$19.68 MKD 1,038

-3.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.49 MKD 2,082

$35.03 MKD 1,847

12.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.78 MKD 938

$18.91 MKD 997

-5.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 MKD 336

$6.71 MKD 354

-4.92%

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

$322 MKD 17.0K

$285 MKD 15.0K

12.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,517 MKD 238.2K

$3,514 MKD 185.3K

28.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 MKD 4,137

$77.1 MKD 4,066

1.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.91 MKD 2,105

$39.09 MKD 2,061

2.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MKD 5,327

$99.2 MKD 5,233

1.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,813

$111 MKD 5,855

-0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 MKD 22.3K

$228 MKD 12.0K

85.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MKD 16.4K

$170 MKD 8,962

83.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 MKD 33.0K

$570 MKD 30.0K

9.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MKD 24.5K

$463 MKD 24.4K

0.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 MKD 149.8K

$2,168 MKD 114.3K

31.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,883 MKD 99.3K

$1,369 MKD 72.2K

37.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$888 MKD 46.8K

$642 MKD 33.9K

38.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

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

Last update for Skopje: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ohrid: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Skopje versus $228 in Ohrid. 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 38% 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 $33.00 in Ohrid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $207 – making Ohrid 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 Ohrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skopje costs about 17% more than Ohrid, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,625 per month in Skopje and $1,387 in Ohrid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ohrid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Skopje and $285 in Ohrid. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Skopje, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ohrid, where all-in costs run around $924, than in Skopje at $1,083. In Ohrid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ohrid costs $924 versus $1,083 in Skopje. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Ohrid. 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.