🙂A single person spends $1,112 per month in Skopje vs $1,158 in Port Elizabeth, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Skopje vs $1,839 in Port Elizabeth, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Skopje vs $2,519 in Port Elizabeth, rent included.
🙂Skopje is about 4% cheaper than Port Elizabeth, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Skopje and Port Elizabeth are more affordable than the global median – Skopje17% lower, Port Elizabeth14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.57MKD 399
$9.00R 146
-15.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.02MKD 1,793
$44.72R 727
-23.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65MKD 350
$5.30R 86.2
25.47%
Cappuccino
$2.19MKD 115
$2.23R 36.16
-1.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94MKD 102
$1.17R 19.08
65.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28MKD 67.5
$1.04R 16.83
23.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70MKD 142
$2.50R 40.57
8.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47MKD 183
$2.95R 47.99
17.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34MKD 70.7
$1.12R 18.12
19.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82MKD 43.38
$0.93R 15.13
-11.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75MKD 92.4
$1.43R 23.17
22.38%
Eggs
$2.19MKD 115
$2.49R 40.42
-12.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22MKD 486
$7.86R 128
17.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99MKD 421
$4.86R 79.0
64.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63MKD 719
$8.05R 131
69.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01MKD 53.4
$1.68R 27.26
-39.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41MKD 74.5
$1.41R 22.98
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32MKD 69.6
$1.59R 25.81
-16.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MKD 115
$1.62R 26.34
33.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88MKD 46.57
$1.50R 24.31
-41.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92MKD 48.53
$1.11R 18.10
-17.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71MKD 37.43
$1.19R 19.37
-40.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MKD 30.60
$0.93R 15.05
-37.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15MKD 166
$2.96R 48.15
6.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.41MKD 391
$5.00R 81.2
48.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MKD 55.9
$1.16R 18.88
-8.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MKD 79.8
$1.71R 27.87
-11.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Port Elizabeth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MKD 40.44
$1.09R 17.79
-29.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.67MKD 1,458
$34.50R 561
-19.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98MKD 51.5
$2.68R 43.49
-63.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.61
$0.44R 7.22
11.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.60MKD 400
$8.04R 131
-5.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 77.3
$1.29R 20.92
13.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KMKD 1.8M
$23.5KR 382.4K
44.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KMKD 1.6M
$25.5KR 413.8K
16.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160MKD 8,446
$118R 1,913
36.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.34MKD 966
$32.46R 527
-43.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13MKD 1,008
$44.22R 719
-56.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.37MKD 2,022
$28.98R 471
32.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.56MKD 925
$20.80R 338
-15.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72MKD 354
$9.52R 155
-29.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312MKD 16.5K
$164R 2,661
90.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,509MKD 237.6K
$4,714R 76.6K
-4.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2MKD 4,067
$66.6R 1,083
15.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43MKD 2,131
$37.40R 608
8.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,275
$93.8R 1,524
6.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110MKD 5,810
$90.5R 1,471
21.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Port Elizabeth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429MKD 22.6K
$587R 9,532
-26.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310MKD 16.3K
$448R 7,276
-30.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645MKD 34.0K
$1,115R 18.1K
-42.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459MKD 24.2K
$871R 14.2K
-47.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,801MKD 147.6K
$776R 12.6K
260.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,829MKD 96.4K
$545R 8,864
235.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$913MKD 48.1K
$1,620R 26.3K
-43.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.54
12.04
-62.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026
Last update for Port Elizabeth: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $587 in Port Elizabeth. 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 77% higher in Port Elizabeth, 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 $45.00 in Port Elizabeth. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Skopje vs $181 in Port Elizabeth – so Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Skopje or Port Elizabeth?
Port Elizabeth costs about 4% more than Skopje, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Skopje vs Port Elizabeth?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,667 per month in Skopje and $1,737 in Port Elizabeth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Skopje or Port Elizabeth?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Skopje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Skopje or Port Elizabeth?
Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Port Elizabeth – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Skopje vs Port Elizabeth?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Skopje and $45.00 in Port Elizabeth. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Skopje or Port Elizabeth?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,112, than in Port Elizabeth at $1,158. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Elizabeth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Skopje or Port Elizabeth?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skopje costs $1,112 versus $1,158 in Port Elizabeth. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Skopje or Port Elizabeth?
If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Elizabeth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.