Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Sunny Beach Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Sunny Beach

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,087 per month in Skopje vs $1,111 in Sunny Beach, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,634 per month in Skopje vs $1,671 in Sunny Beach, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,180 per month in Skopje vs $2,230 in Sunny Beach, rent included.

Skopje is about 2% cheaper than Sunny Beach, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Skopje and Sunny Beach are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 19% lower, Sunny Beach 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58 MKD 407
$8.10 BGN 13.47
-6.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.45 MKD 1,794
$41.93 BGN 69.8
-20.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.70 MKD 359
$10.02 BGN 16.67
-33.13%
Cappuccino
$2.27 MKD 122
$1.90 BGN 3.16
19.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 MKD 109
$1.32 BGN 2.20
53.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 MKD 69.2
$1.05 BGN 1.75
22.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.66 MKD 143
$1.80 BGN 2.99
47.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 MKD 180
$1.82 BGN 3.03
84.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 MKD 69.4
$2.04 BGN 3.39
-36.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 MKD 40.80
$0.62 BGN 1.03
22.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 MKD 89.6
$2.76 BGN 4.60
-39.49%
Eggs
$2.21 MKD 119
$3.92 BGN 6.52
-43.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.13 MKD 490
$13.00 BGN 21.62
-29.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.78 MKD 417
$8.33 BGN 13.86
-6.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 MKD 735
$12.74 BGN 21.19
7.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.06 MKD 57.1
$1.60 BGN 2.66
-33.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MKD 76.8
$2.20 BGN 3.65
-35.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 MKD 72.5
$1.75 BGN 2.91
-22.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MKD 116
$2.74 BGN 4.56
-20.80%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 MKD 47.75
$1.19 BGN 1.98
-25.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.90 MKD 48.45
$1.36 BGN 2.26
-33.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 MKD 36.92
$1.22 BGN 2.04
-43.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 MKD 29.70
$0.79 BGN 1.32
-30.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 MKD 170
$3.70 BGN 6.15
-14.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.26 MKD 389
$5.96 BGN 9.91
21.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MKD 57.2
$1.19 BGN 1.98
-10.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MKD 81.5
$1.70 BGN 2.82
-10.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 MKD 40.94
$1.20 BGN 1.99
-36.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.58 MKD 1,533
$27.06 BGN 45.01
5.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 MKD 51.6
$1.16 BGN 1.93
-17.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 MKD 26.01
$0.61 BGN 1.01
-21.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.41 MKD 397
$12.03 BGN 20.01
-38.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 MKD 79.7
$1.48 BGN 2.47
0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K MKD 1.8M
$37.5K BGN 62.3K
-10.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K MKD 1.6M
$34.5K BGN 57.4K
-15.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 MKD 8,574
$117 BGN 195
36.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.05 MKD 968
$17.33 BGN 28.84
4.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13 MKD 1,026
$13.38 BGN 22.26
42.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.66 MKD 2,074
$29.54 BGN 49.14
30.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.36 MKD 931
$14.59 BGN 24.27
18.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.62 MKD 355
$6.88 BGN 11.44
-3.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$320 MKD 17.2K
$328 BGN 545
-2.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,642 MKD 249.0K
$5,492 BGN 9,136
-15.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.5 MKD 4,157
$34.40 BGN 57.2
125.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.16 MKD 2,154
$29.72 BGN 49.43
35.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 MKD 5,364
$125 BGN 209
-20.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 MKD 5,913
$77.9 BGN 130
41.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$425 MKD 22.8K
$598 BGN 995
-29.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 MKD 16.6K
$361 BGN 600
-14.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 MKD 34.6K
$701 BGN 1,166
-7.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 MKD 24.8K
$537 BGN 893
-13.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,731 MKD 146.5K
$1,367 BGN 2,275
99.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,740 MKD 93.3K
$1,129 BGN 1,878
54.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$886 MKD 47.5K
$939 BGN 1,563
-5.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.54
5.1
-10.98%

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

Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sunny Beach: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Skopje versus $598 in Sunny Beach. 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 6% higher in Sunny Beach, 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 $33.00 in Skopje versus $42.00 in Sunny Beach. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $256 – making Skopje 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 Sunny Beach: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Skopje or Sunny Beach?
Sunny Beach costs about 2% more than Skopje, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 and in Sunny Beach?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,631 per month in Skopje and $1,666 in Sunny Beach. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Skopje or Sunny Beach?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Skopje and in Sunny Beach?
Kindergarten costs $320 per month in Skopje and $328 in Sunny Beach. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Skopje or in Sunny Beach?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Sunny Beach, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Skopje or in Sunny Beach?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,087, than in Sunny Beach at $1,111. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sunny Beach it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Skopje or Sunny Beach?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skopje costs $1,087 versus $1,111 in Sunny Beach. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Skopje or to Sunny Beach?
If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sunny Beach makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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