Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Sveti Nikole Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Sveti Nikole

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,112 per month in Skopje vs $887 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Skopje vs $1,323 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Skopje vs $1,759 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

Skopje costs about 25% more than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Skopje and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 17% lower, Sveti Nikole 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.57 MKD 399

$5.74 MKD 302

31.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.02 MKD 1,793

$28.63 MKD 1,509

18.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 MKD 350

$5.21 MKD 275

27.64%

Cappuccino

$2.19 MKD 115

$1.73 MKD 91.4

26.59%

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

$1.94 MKD 102

$1.67 MKD 88.3

16.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MKD 67.5

$1.26 MKD 66.5

1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 MKD 142

$2.20 MKD 116

22.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MKD 183

$2.69 MKD 142

29.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.7

$1.29 MKD 68.1

3.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MKD 43.38

$0.71 MKD 37.59

15.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MKD 92.4

$1.72 MKD 90.7

1.74%

Eggs

$2.19 MKD 115

$2.08 MKD 110

5.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 MKD 486

$8.30 MKD 438

11.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 MKD 421

$6.47 MKD 341

23.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 MKD 719

$13.33 MKD 703

2.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 MKD 53.4

$1.07 MKD 56.5

-5.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 MKD 74.5

$1.45 MKD 76.2

-2.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 MKD 69.6

$1.27 MKD 66.7

3.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MKD 115

$1.58 MKD 83.1

37.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 46.57

$0.94 MKD 49.70

-6.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 MKD 48.53

$0.99 MKD 52.3

-7.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MKD 37.43

$0.62 MKD 32.51

14.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.60

$0.53 MKD 27.75

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 MKD 166

$3.06 MKD 161

2.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.41 MKD 391

$6.48 MKD 341

14.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MKD 55.9

$1.01 MKD 53.3

4.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MKD 79.8

$1.46 MKD 76.8

3.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 40.44

$0.65 MKD 34.20

18.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.67 MKD 1,458

$20.07 MKD 1,058

37.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MKD 51.5

$1.29 MKD 68.2

-24.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.61

$0.49 MKD 25.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.60 MKD 400

$6.44 MKD 339

18.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 MKD 77.3

$1.43 MKD 75.5

2.80%

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

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

6.04%

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

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

-1.24%

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

$160 MKD 8,446

$145 MKD 7,619

10.85%

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

$18.34 MKD 966

$17.35 MKD 915

5.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.13 MKD 1,008

$15.43 MKD 813

23.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.37 MKD 2,022

$26.73 MKD 1,409

43.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.56 MKD 925

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 MKD 354

$4.60 MKD 243

46.09%

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

$312 MKD 16.5K

$215 MKD 11.4K

45.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,509 MKD 237.6K

$1,226 MKD 64.6K

267.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 MKD 4,067

$76.1 MKD 4,009

1.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.43 MKD 2,131

$39.12 MKD 2,061

3.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 MKD 5,275

$74.4 MKD 3,922

34.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,810

$111 MKD 5,860

-0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 MKD 22.6K

$281 MKD 14.8K

52.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 MKD 16.3K

$198 MKD 10.4K

56.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 MKD 34.0K

$563 MKD 29.7K

14.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 MKD 24.2K

$309 MKD 16.3K

48.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,801 MKD 147.6K

$1,644 MKD 86.6K

70.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,829 MKD 96.4K

$1,276 MKD 67.3K

43.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$913 MKD 48.1K

$568 MKD 29.9K

60.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

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

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $281 in Sveti Nikole. 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 61% 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 $29.00 in Sveti Nikole. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $194 – making Sveti Nikole 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 Sveti Nikole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skopje costs about 25% more than Sveti Nikole, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,667 per month in Skopje and $1,331 in Sveti Nikole. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sveti Nikole, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Skopje and $215 in Sveti Nikole. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sveti Nikole, where all-in costs run around $887, than in Skopje at $1,112. In Sveti Nikole it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sveti Nikole costs $887 versus $1,112 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 Sveti Nikole. 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.