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 $1,168 per month in Skopje vs $894 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,738 per month in Skopje vs $1,352 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,308 per month in Skopje vs $1,811 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

Skopje costs about 31% more than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Skopje and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 15% lower, Sveti Nikole 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.46 MKD 499

$9.38 MKD 495

0.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.97 MKD 1,791

$34.67 MKD 1,828

-2.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 MKD 355

$5.40 MKD 285

24.63%

Cappuccino

$2.13 MKD 113

$1.75 MKD 92.1

21.71%

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

$1.88 MKD 99.0

$1.45 MKD 76.5

29.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 MKD 68.6

$1.01 MKD 53.5

28.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 MKD 146

$1.58 MKD 83.3

75.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 MKD 166

$1.86 MKD 98.3

69.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 68.1

$1.40 MKD 74.1

-7.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MKD 43.10

$0.56 MKD 29.58

46.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MKD 100.0

$1.20 MKD 63.3

58.33%

Eggs

$2.47 MKD 130

$2.55 MKD 135

-3.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.81 MKD 465

$9.66 MKD 509

-8.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.56 MKD 399

$4.64 MKD 245

62.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.11 MKD 797

$12.40 MKD 654

21.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 MKD 78.0

$1.39 MKD 73.4

6.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MKD 79.0

$1.36 MKD 71.6

10.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 MKD 72.7

$1.35 MKD 71.4

2.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MKD 109

$1.78 MKD 93.8

15.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 46.27

$0.79 MKD 41.50

11.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 44.20

$1.21 MKD 63.9

-30.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 MKD 34.15

$0.83 MKD 43.89

-21.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.79

$0.41 MKD 21.58

41.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.66 MKD 193

$3.13 MKD 165

16.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.47 MKD 394

$6.45 MKD 340

15.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MKD 55.1

$1.06 MKD 55.8

-1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 MKD 83.4

$1.47 MKD 77.7

7.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MKD 41.25

$0.78 MKD 41.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.82 MKD 1,467

$25.00 MKD 1,318

11.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 MKD 59.0

$1.55 MKD 81.8

-27.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 MKD 35.46

$1.06 MKD 56.0

-36.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 MKD 416

$3.83 MKD 202

106.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 MKD 85.2

$1.44 MKD 76.1

12.50%

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

$37.5K MKD 2.0M

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

10.72%

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

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

-0.18%

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

$166 MKD 8,729

$152 MKD 8,017

8.89%

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

$19.14 MKD 1,009

$15.96 MKD 841

19.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.69 MKD 1,038

$12.48 MKD 658

57.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 MKD 2,034

$23.62 MKD 1,245

63.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.23 MKD 961

$16.78 MKD 885

8.64%

Cinema Ticket

$7.31 MKD 385

$5.21 MKD 275

40.31%

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

$390 MKD 20.5K

$356 MKD 18.8K

9.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,550 MKD 292.7K

$4,864 MKD 256.5K

14.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.6 MKD 4,723

$77.0 MKD 4,062

16.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 MKD 2,117

$33.42 MKD 1,762

20.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MKD 5,667

$83.6 MKD 4,410

28.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 MKD 6,137

$88.8 MKD 4,685

31.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 MKD 23.5K

$312 MKD 16.5K

42.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 MKD 17.7K

$184 MKD 9,690

83.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 MKD 40.3K

$491 MKD 25.9K

55.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 MKD 27.9K

$305 MKD 16.1K

73.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,710 MKD 142.9K

$1,613 MKD 85.0K

68.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,869 MKD 98.6K

$1,204 MKD 63.5K

55.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$896 MKD 47.3K

$569 MKD 30.0K

57.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

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

Last update for Skopje: August 29, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Skopje versus $312 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 57% 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 $35.00 in Sveti Nikole. Groceries tell a different story – $218 in Skopje vs $188 in Sveti Nikole – so Sveti Nikole wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 31% more than Sveti Nikole, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,752 per month in Skopje and $1,341 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 $390 per month in Skopje and $356 in Sveti Nikole. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $894, than in Skopje at $1,168. 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 $894 versus $1,168 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.