Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Struga Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Struga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,083 per month in Skopje vs $808 in Struga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,616 per month in Skopje vs $1,194 in Struga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,149 per month in Skopje vs $1,580 in Struga, rent included.

Skopje costs about 34% more than Struga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Skopje and Struga are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 19% lower, Struga 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.47 MKD 392

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.48 MKD 1,811

$30.53 MKD 1,604

12.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.60 MKD 347

$4.74 MKD 249

39.24%

Cappuccino

$2.29 MKD 120

$1.58 MKD 82.7

44.94%

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

$1.96 MKD 103

$1.78 MKD 93.3

10.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 67.7

$1.23 MKD 64.6

4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 MKD 135

$2.65 MKD 139

-3.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 MKD 173

$3.35 MKD 176

-1.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.2

$1.19 MKD 62.6

12.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 MKD 40.27

$0.67 MKD 35.42

14.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MKD 88.7

$1.76 MKD 92.5

-3.98%

Eggs

$2.25 MKD 118

$2.07 MKD 109

8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.97 MKD 471

$6.68 MKD 351

34.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.11 MKD 426

$5.49 MKD 288

47.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 MKD 730

$9.31 MKD 489

49.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MKD 53.8

$0.55 MKD 28.77

85.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.6

$1.32 MKD 69.4

3.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.6

$0.95 MKD 50.1

43.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 MKD 113

$1.16 MKD 60.8

86.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 43.97

$0.72 MKD 37.94

16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 51.6

$0.99 MKD 51.8

-1.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MKD 37.33

$0.58 MKD 30.35

22.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 29.07

$0.40 MKD 20.85

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 MKD 168

$3.26 MKD 171

-1.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.53 MKD 395

$4.63 MKD 243

62.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MKD 55.4

$1.10 MKD 57.7

-4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 MKD 82.7

$1.00 MKD 52.8

58.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MKD 40.77

$0.63 MKD 33.09

23.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 MKD 1,487

$20.30 MKD 1,066

39.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 MKD 48.09

$0.96 MKD 50.6

-4.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MKD 26.15

$0.50 MKD 26.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 MKD 384

$7.54 MKD 396

-2.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MKD 80.7

$1.47 MKD 77.3

4.76%

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

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

2.54%

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

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

$29.9K MKD 1.6M

0.22%

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

$160 MKD 8,423

$90.7 MKD 4,764

76.80%

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

$18.02 MKD 947

$15.09 MKD 793

19.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.00 MKD 998

$19.15 MKD 1,006

-0.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.49 MKD 2,074

$26.68 MKD 1,401

48.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.78 MKD 934

$22.16 MKD 1,164

-19.77%

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 MKD 335

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

$322 MKD 16.9K

$323 MKD 17.0K

-0.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,517 MKD 237.2K

$1,180 MKD 62.0K

282.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 MKD 4,120

$78.3 MKD 4,110

0.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.91 MKD 2,096

$27.71 MKD 1,455

44.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MKD 5,306

$67.0 MKD 3,517

50.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,790

$37.26 MKD 1,957

195.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 MKD 22.2K

$287 MKD 15.1K

47.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MKD 16.3K

$230 MKD 12.1K

35.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 MKD 32.9K

$387 MKD 20.3K

61.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MKD 24.4K

$318 MKD 16.7K

46.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 MKD 149.2K

$1,626 MKD 85.4K

74.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,883 MKD 98.9K

$1,431 MKD 75.2K

31.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$888 MKD 46.6K

$1,009 MKD 53.0K

-11.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

3.5

29.71%

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

Last update for Skopje: April 28, 2026

Last update for Struga: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Skopje versus $287 in Struga. 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 14% higher in Struga, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Skopje versus $31.00 in Struga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $158 – making Struga 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 Struga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skopje costs about 34% more than Struga, 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 $1,212 in Struga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Struga, 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 $323 in Struga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Struga, where all-in costs run around $808, than in Skopje at $1,083. In Struga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Struga costs $808 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 Struga. 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.