Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,087 per month in Skopje vs $1,197 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,634 per month in Skopje vs $1,868 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,180 per month in Skopje vs $2,538 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Skopje is about 9% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Skopje and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 19% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 MKD 407

$10.82 ₾28.38

-29.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.45 MKD 1,796

$43.85 ₾115

-23.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 MKD 360

$8.31 ₾21.79

-19.37%

Cappuccino

$2.27 MKD 122

$2.97 ₾7.78

-23.57%

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

$2.03 MKD 109

$0.77 ₾2.01

163.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 69.3

$0.46 ₾1.20

180.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 MKD 143

$2.14 ₾5.63

24.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 MKD 180

$2.87 ₾7.52

16.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 69.5

$1.90 ₾4.99

-32.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 MKD 40.83

$0.71 ₾1.86

7.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MKD 89.7

$1.91 ₾5.00

-12.57%

Eggs

$2.21 MKD 119

$2.48 ₾6.52

-10.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.13 MKD 490

$7.74 ₾20.29

17.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.78 MKD 418

$6.18 ₾16.20

25.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.71 MKD 736

$9.57 ₾25.11

43.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 MKD 57.1

$1.17 ₾3.06

-9.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 76.8

$1.65 ₾4.34

-13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 72.6

$1.85 ₾4.84

-27.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MKD 116

$2.33 ₾6.11

-6.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 47.79

$0.71 ₾1.85

25.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 MKD 48.49

$0.67 ₾1.76

34.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 MKD 36.95

$1.19 ₾3.12

-42.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 29.72

$0.66 ₾1.72

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 MKD 171

$2.92 ₾7.65

8.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.26 MKD 390

$7.69 ₾20.17

-5.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MKD 57.3

$1.59 ₾4.18

-32.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MKD 81.5

$2.31 ₾6.06

-34.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MKD 40.98

$0.38 ₾1.01

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.58 MKD 1,534

$14.76 ₾38.71

93.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MKD 51.6

$1.50 ₾3.92

-36.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MKD 26.03

$0.68 ₾1.77

-29.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.41 MKD 398

$7.26 ₾19.03

2.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 79.7

$1.09 ₾2.87

36.70%

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

$33.7K MKD 1.8M

$18.6K ₾48.8K

80.88%

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

$29.3K MKD 1.6M

$20.5K ₾53.7K

43.00%

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

$160 MKD 8,580

$73.0 ₾191

118.96%

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

$18.05 MKD 969

$11.97 ₾31.40

50.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.13 MKD 1,027

$18.00 ₾47.21

6.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.66 MKD 2,075

$61.0 ₾160

-36.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.36 MKD 932

$16.52 ₾43.33

5.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 MKD 356

$6.70 ₾17.58

-1.19%

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

$320 MKD 17.2K

$269 ₾705

19.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 MKD 249.2K

$5,152 ₾13.5K

-9.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.5 MKD 4,160

$76.5 ₾201

1.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.16 MKD 2,156

$43.41 ₾114

-7.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 MKD 5,368

$120 ₾316

-16.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,918

$111 ₾290

-0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 MKD 22.8K

$687 ₾1,802

-38.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 MKD 16.6K

$470 ₾1,234

-34.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 MKD 34.6K

$1,353 ₾3,549

-52.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 MKD 24.8K

$789 ₾2,069

-41.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,731 MKD 146.6K

$2,468 ₾6,472

10.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,740 MKD 93.4K

$1,456 ₾3,817

19.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$886 MKD 47.6K

$659 ₾1,729

34.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

11.89

-61.82%

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

Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Skopje versus $687 in Tbilisi. 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 34% higher in Skopje, 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 $33.00 in Skopje versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Skopje vs $205 in Tbilisi – so Tbilisi 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 Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 10% more than Skopje, 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 $1,631 per month in Skopje and $1,796 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $320 per month in Skopje and $269 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,087, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skopje costs $1,087 versus $1,197 in Tbilisi. 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 Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.