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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,087 per month in Skopje vs $989 in Tetovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,634 per month in Skopje vs $1,475 in Tetovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,180 per month in Skopje vs $1,960 in Tetovo, rent included.

Skopje costs about 10% more than Tetovo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Skopje and Tetovo are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 19% lower, Tetovo 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58 MKD 407
$5.53 MKD 297
37.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.45 MKD 1,794
$24.86 MKD 1,333
34.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.70 MKD 359
$5.00 MKD 268
34.00%
Cappuccino
$2.27 MKD 122
$1.49 MKD 79.8
52.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 MKD 109
$1.53 MKD 82.0
32.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 MKD 69.2
$1.02 MKD 54.5
26.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.66 MKD 143
$2.23 MKD 119
19.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 MKD 180
$2.14 MKD 115
56.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 MKD 69.4
$1.29 MKD 69.3
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 MKD 40.80
$0.69 MKD 37.16
10.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 MKD 89.6
$1.42 MKD 76.2
17.61%
Eggs
$2.21 MKD 119
$2.02 MKD 108
9.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.13 MKD 490
$7.42 MKD 398
23.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.78 MKD 417
$5.39 MKD 289
44.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 MKD 735
$10.42 MKD 559
31.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.06 MKD 57.1
$1.07 MKD 57.4
-0.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MKD 76.8
$1.37 MKD 73.4
4.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 MKD 72.5
$1.03 MKD 55.2
31.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MKD 116
$1.64 MKD 87.9
32.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 MKD 47.75
$0.97 MKD 51.8
-8.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.90 MKD 48.45
$0.74 MKD 39.44
21.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 MKD 36.92
$0.86 MKD 46.17
-19.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 MKD 29.70
$0.56 MKD 30.15
-1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 MKD 170
$3.14 MKD 169
1.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.26 MKD 389
$4.50 MKD 242
61.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MKD 57.2
$0.94 MKD 50.3
13.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MKD 81.5
$1.46 MKD 78.1
4.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 MKD 40.94
$0.37 MKD 19.58
105.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.58 MKD 1,533
$11.47 MKD 615
149.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 MKD 51.6
$1.10 MKD 59.0
-12.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 MKD 26.01
$0.53 MKD 28.28
-9.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.41 MKD 397
$6.69 MKD 359
10.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 MKD 79.7
$1.50 MKD 80.5
-0.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K MKD 1.8M
$31.5K MKD 1.7M
6.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K MKD 1.6M
$33.4K MKD 1.8M
-12.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 MKD 8,574
$142 MKD 7,636
12.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.05 MKD 968
$17.74 MKD 952
1.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13 MKD 1,026
$15.29 MKD 820
25.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.66 MKD 2,074
$88.5 MKD 4,746
-56.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.36 MKD 931
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.62 MKD 355
$4.74 MKD 254
39.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$320 MKD 17.2K
$222 MKD 11.9K
44.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,642 MKD 249.0K
$2,252 MKD 120.8K
106.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.5 MKD 4,157
$66.2 MKD 3,551
17.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.16 MKD 2,154
$48.36 MKD 2,594
-16.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 MKD 5,364
$74.8 MKD 4,012
33.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 MKD 5,913
$114 MKD 6,128
-3.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$425 MKD 22.8K
$358 MKD 19.2K
18.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 MKD 16.6K
$278 MKD 14.9K
11.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 MKD 34.6K
$595 MKD 31.9K
8.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 MKD 24.8K
$507 MKD 27.2K
-8.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,731 MKD 146.5K
$1,224 MKD 65.7K
123.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,740 MKD 93.3K
$1,118 MKD 60.0K
55.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skopje
Tetovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$886 MKD 47.5K
$888 MKD 47.6K
-0.22%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Tetovo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Skopje versus $358 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 Tetovo, 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 $25.00 in Tetovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $171 – 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 10% 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 and in Tetovo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,631 per month in Skopje and $1,483 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 $320 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 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 $800/month in Skopje or in Tetovo?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,087 in Skopje and $989 in Tetovo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Skopje or Tetovo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tetovo costs $989 versus $1,087 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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