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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,182 per month in Skopje vs $1,044 in Tetovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,723 per month in Skopje vs $1,546 in Tetovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,263 per month in Skopje vs $2,048 in Tetovo, rent included.

Skopje costs about 13% more than Tetovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Skopje and Tetovo are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 14% lower, Tetovo 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.68 MKD 511
$7.44 MKD 393
30.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.37 MKD 1,816
$28.55 MKD 1,508
20.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.65 MKD 351
$6.12 MKD 323
8.66%
Cappuccino
$2.23 MKD 118
$1.62 MKD 85.6
37.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 MKD 98.5
$1.60 MKD 84.7
16.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MKD 67.6
$1.03 MKD 54.3
24.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.81 MKD 148
$2.25 MKD 119
24.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 MKD 172
$2.30 MKD 122
41.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 MKD 70.4
$1.32 MKD 69.9
0.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 MKD 41.46
$0.67 MKD 35.33
16.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MKD 102
$1.43 MKD 75.4
35.66%
Eggs
$2.47 MKD 131
$2.11 MKD 112
17.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.73 MKD 461
$7.35 MKD 388
18.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.49 MKD 396
$5.55 MKD 293
34.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.07 MKD 796
$10.44 MKD 551
44.35%
Apples (1kg)
$1.53 MKD 80.7
$1.43 MKD 75.6
6.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MKD 79.0
$1.42 MKD 75.2
5.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 MKD 73.0
$1.00 MKD 52.7
38.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MKD 110
$2.09 MKD 110
-0.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 MKD 48.78
$0.86 MKD 45.30
6.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 MKD 44.24
$0.73 MKD 38.78
15.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 MKD 32.51
$0.66 MKD 34.68
-6.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MKD 30.31
$0.57 MKD 29.88
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63 MKD 192
$3.14 MKD 166
15.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.37 MKD 389
$4.80 MKD 254
53.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MKD 57.5
$1.10 MKD 58.0
-0.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MKD 82.3
$1.48 MKD 78.4
5.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 MKD 42.10
$0.40 MKD 20.87
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.14 MKD 1,487
$11.47 MKD 606
145.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 MKD 58.4
$1.10 MKD 58.1
0.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 MKD 35.75
$0.60 MKD 31.45
13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.98 MKD 422
$7.74 MKD 409
3.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MKD 81.2
$1.52 MKD 80.2
1.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K MKD 2.0M
$36.4K MKD 1.9M
1.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K MKD 1.5M
$28.2K MKD 1.5M
0.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 MKD 8,854
$165 MKD 8,736
1.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.55 MKD 1,033
$19.08 MKD 1,008
2.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.73 MKD 1,042
$20.12 MKD 1,063
-1.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.05 MKD 2,010
$71.7 MKD 3,790
-46.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.83 MKD 942
$18.56 MKD 980
-3.93%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13 MKD 377
$5.76 MKD 304
23.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$389 MKD 20.5K
$228 MKD 12.0K
70.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,501 MKD 290.6K
$2,292 MKD 121.1K
139.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.6 MKD 4,837
$65.7 MKD 3,469
39.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.71 MKD 2,098
$40.10 MKD 2,119
-0.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MKD 5,629
$109 MKD 5,735
-1.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 MKD 6,023
$117 MKD 6,162
-2.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 MKD 23.4K
$369 MKD 19.5K
20.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 MKD 17.9K
$282 MKD 14.9K
20.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 MKD 39.6K
$605 MKD 32.0K
23.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$535 MKD 28.3K
$504 MKD 26.6K
6.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,778 MKD 146.8K
$1,284 MKD 67.8K
116.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,892 MKD 99.9K
$1,115 MKD 58.9K
69.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$906 MKD 47.9K
$899 MKD 47.5K
0.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.25
3.75
13.33%

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

Last update for Skopje: September 6, 2026

Last update for Tetovo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 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 1% 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 Tetovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $177 – 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 13% more than Tetovo, 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 Tetovo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,774 per month in Skopje and $1,566 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 in Tetovo?
Kindergarten costs $389 per month in Skopje and $228 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 in Tetovo?
Groceries cost about 23% 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 in Tetovo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tetovo, where all-in costs run around $1,044, than in Skopje at $1,182. 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 $1,044 versus $1,182 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 to 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.

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