🙂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 – Skopje19% lower, Sunny Beach17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58MKD 407
$8.10BGN 13.47
-6.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.45MKD 1,794
$41.93BGN 69.8
-20.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.70MKD 359
$10.02BGN 16.67
-33.13%
Cappuccino
$2.27MKD 122
$1.90BGN 3.16
19.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03MKD 109
$1.32BGN 2.20
53.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29MKD 69.2
$1.05BGN 1.75
22.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66MKD 143
$1.80BGN 2.99
47.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35MKD 180
$1.82BGN 3.03
84.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29MKD 69.4
$2.04BGN 3.39
-36.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76MKD 40.80
$0.62BGN 1.03
22.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67MKD 89.6
$2.76BGN 4.60
-39.49%
Eggs
$2.21MKD 119
$3.92BGN 6.52
-43.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.13MKD 490
$13.00BGN 21.62
-29.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.78MKD 417
$8.33BGN 13.86
-6.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.71MKD 735
$12.74BGN 21.19
7.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.06MKD 57.1
$1.60BGN 2.66
-33.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MKD 76.8
$2.20BGN 3.65
-35.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MKD 72.5
$1.75BGN 2.91
-22.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MKD 116
$2.74BGN 4.56
-20.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89MKD 47.75
$1.19BGN 1.98
-25.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90MKD 48.45
$1.36BGN 2.26
-33.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69MKD 36.92
$1.22BGN 2.04
-43.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MKD 29.70
$0.79BGN 1.32
-30.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18MKD 170
$3.70BGN 6.15
-14.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.26MKD 389
$5.96BGN 9.91
21.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MKD 57.2
$1.19BGN 1.98
-10.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MKD 81.5
$1.70BGN 2.82
-10.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76MKD 40.94
$1.20BGN 1.99
-36.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.58MKD 1,533
$27.06BGN 45.01
5.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96MKD 51.6
$1.16BGN 1.93
-17.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MKD 26.01
$0.61BGN 1.01
-21.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.41MKD 397
$12.03BGN 20.01
-38.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MKD 79.7
$1.48BGN 2.47
0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7KMKD 1.8M
$37.5KBGN 62.3K
-10.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KMKD 1.6M
$34.5KBGN 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)
$160MKD 8,574
$117BGN 195
36.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.05MKD 968
$17.33BGN 28.84
4.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13MKD 1,026
$13.38BGN 22.26
42.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.66MKD 2,074
$29.54BGN 49.14
30.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.36MKD 931
$14.59BGN 24.27
18.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.62MKD 355
$6.88BGN 11.44
-3.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320MKD 17.2K
$328BGN 545
-2.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,642MKD 249.0K
$5,492BGN 9,136
-15.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.5MKD 4,157
$34.40BGN 57.2
125.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.16MKD 2,154
$29.72BGN 49.43
35.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,364
$125BGN 209
-20.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110MKD 5,913
$77.9BGN 130
41.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425MKD 22.8K
$598BGN 995
-29.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310MKD 16.6K
$361BGN 600
-14.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645MKD 34.6K
$701BGN 1,166
-7.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$463MKD 24.8K
$537BGN 893
-13.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,731MKD 146.5K
$1,367BGN 2,275
99.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,740MKD 93.3K
$1,129BGN 1,878
54.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Sunny Beach
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$886MKD 47.5K
$939BGN 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.