Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Tetovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Tetovo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,112 per month in Skopje vs $998 in Tetovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Skopje vs $1,481 in Tetovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Skopje vs $1,963 in Tetovo, rent included.

Skopje costs about 11% more than Tetovo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Skopje and Tetovo are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 17% lower, Tetovo 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.57 MKD 399
$5.80 MKD 306
30.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.02 MKD 1,793
$25.17 MKD 1,327
35.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.65 MKD 350
$5.15 MKD 271
29.13%
Cappuccino
$2.19 MKD 115
$1.46 MKD 77.1
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 MKD 102
$1.48 MKD 78.1
31.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MKD 67.5
$0.95 MKD 50.3
34.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 MKD 142
$2.22 MKD 117
21.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 MKD 183
$2.20 MKD 116
57.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 MKD 70.7
$1.25 MKD 66.0
7.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 MKD 43.38
$0.64 MKD 33.91
28.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 MKD 92.4
$1.35 MKD 71.2
29.63%
Eggs
$2.19 MKD 115
$2.09 MKD 110
4.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 MKD 486
$7.34 MKD 387
25.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 MKD 421
$5.29 MKD 279
51.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.63 MKD 719
$10.45 MKD 551
30.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.01 MKD 53.4
$1.08 MKD 56.9
-6.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 MKD 74.5
$1.39 MKD 73.2
1.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 MKD 69.6
$1.02 MKD 53.5
29.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MKD 115
$1.57 MKD 83.0
38.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 MKD 46.57
$0.92 MKD 48.29
-4.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 MKD 48.53
$0.72 MKD 38.10
27.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 MKD 37.43
$0.85 MKD 44.75
-16.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MKD 30.60
$0.55 MKD 29.21
5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15 MKD 166
$3.12 MKD 165
0.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.41 MKD 391
$4.80 MKD 253
54.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 MKD 55.9
$1.01 MKD 53.2
4.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MKD 79.8
$1.47 MKD 77.3
2.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 MKD 40.44
$0.36 MKD 19.22
113.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.67 MKD 1,458
$11.24 MKD 592
146.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 MKD 51.5
$1.15 MKD 60.7
-14.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 MKD 25.61
$0.50 MKD 26.33
-2.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.60 MKD 400
$6.66 MKD 351
14.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MKD 77.3
$1.50 MKD 78.9
-2.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K MKD 1.8M
$32.0K MKD 1.7M
6.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K MKD 1.6M
$33.9K MKD 1.8M
-12.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 MKD 8,446
$144 MKD 7,611
10.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.34 MKD 966
$17.60 MKD 928
4.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13 MKD 1,008
$15.27 MKD 804
25.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.37 MKD 2,022
$90.4 MKD 4,761
-57.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.56 MKD 925
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 MKD 354
$4.63 MKD 244
45.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 MKD 16.5K
$222 MKD 11.7K
40.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,509 MKD 237.6K
$2,221 MKD 117.1K
103.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2 MKD 4,067
$67.0 MKD 3,533
15.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 MKD 2,131
$47.33 MKD 2,494
-14.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 MKD 5,275
$74.8 MKD 3,940
33.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 MKD 5,810
$111 MKD 5,848
-0.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$429 MKD 22.6K
$369 MKD 19.5K
16.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 MKD 16.3K
$285 MKD 15.0K
8.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 MKD 34.0K
$601 MKD 31.7K
7.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$459 MKD 24.2K
$500 MKD 26.3K
-8.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,801 MKD 147.6K
$1,287 MKD 67.8K
117.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,829 MKD 96.4K
$1,142 MKD 60.2K
60.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$913 MKD 48.1K
$912 MKD 48.1K
0.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.54
3.75
21.07%

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

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tetovo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $369 in Tetovo. 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 0% 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 $25.00 in Tetovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $170 – making Tetovo 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 Tetovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Skopje or Tetovo?
Skopje costs about 11% more than Tetovo, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 vs Tetovo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,667 per month in Skopje and $1,497 in Tetovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Skopje or Tetovo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tetovo, 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 Tetovo?
Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Skopje and $222 in Tetovo. 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 Tetovo?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Skopje, 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 Tetovo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tetovo, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Skopje at $1,112. In Tetovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Skopje or Tetovo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tetovo costs $998 versus $1,112 in Skopje. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Skopje or Tetovo?
If budget matters most, go with Tetovo. 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.

Skopje vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities