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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,143 per month in Skopje vs $818 in Stip, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,720 per month in Skopje vs $1,227 in Stip, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,296 per month in Skopje vs $1,636 in Stip, rent included.

Skopje costs about 40% more than Stip, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Skopje and Stip are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 16% lower, Stip 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.35 MKD 497

$7.59 MKD 403

23.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.06 MKD 1,864

$23.87 MKD 1,270

46.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 MKD 360

$6.62 MKD 352

2.42%

Cappuccino

$2.18 MKD 116

$1.86 MKD 99.2

17.20%

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

$1.90 MKD 101

$1.47 MKD 78.0

29.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 MKD 72.5

$1.16 MKD 61.7

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 MKD 147

$1.85 MKD 98.4

49.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 MKD 178

$2.83 MKD 150

18.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 MKD 67.2

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 MKD 43.24

$0.81 MKD 43.03

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 MKD 101

$1.16 MKD 61.8

62.93%

Eggs

$2.52 MKD 134

$2.58 MKD 137

-2.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MKD 452

$8.56 MKD 455

-0.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.38 MKD 393

$7.54 MKD 401

-2.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 MKD 807

$7.47 MKD 397

103.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 MKD 78.1

$0.91 MKD 48.36

61.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 MKD 75.3

$1.39 MKD 74.0

2.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 71.6

$1.36 MKD 72.2

-0.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MKD 112

$1.65 MKD 87.6

27.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 MKD 45.28

$0.89 MKD 47.27

-4.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 MKD 43.02

$0.81 MKD 42.91

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 MKD 33.94

$0.54 MKD 28.79

18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 MKD 32.55

$0.44 MKD 23.37

38.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.47 MKD 184

$3.37 MKD 179

2.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 MKD 390

$7.53 MKD 400

-2.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MKD 56.2

$1.09 MKD 58.1

-2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MKD 81.0

$1.52 MKD 80.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 40.88

$0.64 MKD 33.84

20.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.58 MKD 1,520

$22.64 MKD 1,204

26.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MKD 61.0

$1.11 MKD 59.2

3.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 MKD 33.22

$0.64 MKD 34.00

-3.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.97 MKD 424

$5.69 MKD 303

40.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 MKD 84.3

$1.52 MKD 80.9

4.61%

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

$36.7K MKD 1.9M

$35.9K MKD 1.9M

2.06%

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

$28.4K MKD 1.5M

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

1.63%

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

$160 MKD 8,502

$162 MKD 8,598

-1.12%

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

$18.86 MKD 1,003

$9.28 MKD 493

103.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.61 MKD 1,043

$16.90 MKD 899

16.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.62 MKD 1,947

$28.33 MKD 1,506

29.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.67 MKD 940

Cinema Ticket

$7.73 MKD 411

$6.61 MKD 352

16.94%

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

$364 MKD 19.4K

$362 MKD 19.2K

0.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,701 MKD 303.2K

$5,660 MKD 301.0K

0.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.4 MKD 4,702

$37.43 MKD 1,990

136.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.29 MKD 2,036

$31.64 MKD 1,682

21.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MKD 5,690

$105 MKD 5,602

1.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 MKD 6,307

$115 MKD 6,102

3.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 MKD 23.3K

$205 MKD 10.9K

114.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 MKD 17.7K

$130 MKD 6,931

155.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 MKD 40.6K

$340 MKD 18.1K

124.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MKD 27.8K

$203 MKD 10.8K

156.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,748 MKD 146.1K

$1,222 MKD 65.0K

124.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,838 MKD 97.7K

$1,002 MKD 53.3K

83.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$920 MKD 48.9K

$469 MKD 25.0K

96.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

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

Last update for Skopje: September 14, 2026

Last update for Stip: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Skopje versus $205 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 96% 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 $35.00 in Skopje versus $24.00 in Stip. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $183 – 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 40% more than Stip, 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 $1,715 per month in Skopje and $1,227 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 $364 per month in Skopje and $362 in Stip. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $818, than in Skopje at $1,143. 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 $818 versus $1,143 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.