Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Stip Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Stip

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,083 per month in Skopje vs $791 in Stip, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,616 per month in Skopje vs $1,157 in Stip, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,149 per month in Skopje vs $1,523 in Stip, rent included.

Skopje costs about 37% more than Stip, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Skopje and Stip are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 19% lower, Stip 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.47 MKD 394

$5.78 MKD 305

29.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.48 MKD 1,818

$16.17 MKD 853

113.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.60 MKD 348

$4.96 MKD 262

33.06%

Cappuccino

$2.29 MKD 121

$1.98 MKD 104

15.66%

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

$1.96 MKD 103

$1.82 MKD 95.9

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 68.0

$1.28 MKD 67.5

0.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 MKD 135

$2.31 MKD 122

11.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 MKD 174

$2.69 MKD 142

22.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.5

$1.28 MKD 67.5

4.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 MKD 40.43

$0.72 MKD 37.89

6.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MKD 89.1

$1.16 MKD 61.0

45.69%

Eggs

$2.25 MKD 118

$2.09 MKD 110

7.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.97 MKD 473

$10.20 MKD 538

-12.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.11 MKD 428

$7.30 MKD 385

11.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 MKD 733

$7.36 MKD 388

88.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MKD 54.0

$0.97 MKD 51.0

5.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.9

$1.43 MKD 75.4

-4.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.9

$1.26 MKD 66.2

7.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 MKD 114

$1.59 MKD 83.6

35.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 44.15

$0.97 MKD 51.3

-13.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 51.8

$1.38 MKD 72.7

-28.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MKD 37.48

$0.59 MKD 31.00

20.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 29.19

$0.44 MKD 23.25

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 MKD 169

$3.07 MKD 162

4.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.53 MKD 397

$7.75 MKD 409

-2.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MKD 55.6

$0.99 MKD 52.5

6.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 MKD 83.1

$1.87 MKD 98.8

-15.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MKD 40.93

$0.68 MKD 35.62

14.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 MKD 1,493

$20.40 MKD 1,076

38.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 MKD 48.28

$1.10 MKD 58.0

-16.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MKD 26.25

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 MKD 386

$5.53 MKD 292

32.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MKD 81.0

$1.44 MKD 75.7

6.94%

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

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

$32.4K MKD 1.7M

6.36%

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

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

-10.72%

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

$160 MKD 8,457

$143 MKD 7,529

12.33%

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

$18.02 MKD 950

$9.46 MKD 499

90.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.00 MKD 1,002

$15.75 MKD 831

20.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.49 MKD 2,082

$28.10 MKD 1,482

40.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.78 MKD 938

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 MKD 336

$4.65 MKD 245

37.20%

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

$322 MKD 17.0K

$223 MKD 11.8K

44.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,517 MKD 238.2K

$1,202 MKD 63.4K

275.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 MKD 4,137

$37.86 MKD 1,996

107.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.91 MKD 2,105

$31.53 MKD 1,663

26.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MKD 5,327

$75.4 MKD 3,973

34.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,813

$112 MKD 5,897

-1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 MKD 22.3K

$207 MKD 10.9K

104.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MKD 16.4K

$134 MKD 7,044

132.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 MKD 33.0K

$337 MKD 17.7K

85.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MKD 24.5K

$205 MKD 10.8K

126.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 MKD 149.8K

$1,237 MKD 65.2K

129.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,883 MKD 99.3K

$1,003 MKD 52.9K

87.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$888 MKD 46.8K

$484 MKD 25.5K

83.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

7.1

-36.06%

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

Last update for Skopje: April 28, 2026

Last update for Stip: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Skopje versus $207 in Stip. 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 83% 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 $16.00 in Stip. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $186 – making Stip 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 Stip: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skopje costs about 37% more than Stip, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,186 in Stip. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Stip, 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 $223 in Stip. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Stip, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Skopje at $1,083. In Stip it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Stip costs $791 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 Stip. 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.