Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Veles Cost of Living Comparison Between Skopje and Veles

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,112 per month in Skopje vs $770 in Veles, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Skopje vs $1,144 in Veles, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Skopje vs $1,517 in Veles, rent included.

Skopje costs about 44% more than Veles, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Skopje and Veles are more affordable than the global median – Skopje 17% lower, Veles 43% lower.

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

$18.89 MKD 996

80.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 MKD 350

$5.12 MKD 270

29.88%

Cappuccino

$2.19 MKD 115

$1.59 MKD 83.6

37.74%

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

$1.94 MKD 102

$1.32 MKD 69.3

46.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MKD 67.5

$0.84 MKD 44.50

52.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 MKD 142

$1.47 MKD 77.7

83.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MKD 183

$2.65 MKD 139

30.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.7

$1.05 MKD 55.2

27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MKD 43.38

$0.55 MKD 28.91

49.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MKD 92.4

$1.49 MKD 78.3

17.45%

Eggs

$2.19 MKD 115

$2.09 MKD 110

4.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 MKD 486

$3.10 MKD 163

197.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 MKD 421

$4.05 MKD 214

97.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 MKD 719

$13.42 MKD 707

1.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 MKD 53.4

$1.07 MKD 56.1

-5.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 MKD 74.5

$1.40 MKD 73.7

0.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 MKD 69.6

$1.25 MKD 65.9

5.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MKD 115

$1.59 MKD 83.8

36.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 46.57

$0.99 MKD 52.0

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 MKD 48.53

$1.40 MKD 73.8

-34.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MKD 37.43

$0.57 MKD 30.27

24.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.60

$0.53 MKD 27.78

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 MKD 166

$3.03 MKD 160

3.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.41 MKD 391

$6.48 MKD 342

14.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MKD 55.9

$1.02 MKD 53.6

3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MKD 79.8

$1.86 MKD 98.1

-18.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 40.44

$0.67 MKD 35.52

14.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.67 MKD 1,458

$50.1 MKD 2,638

-44.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MKD 51.5

$1.10 MKD 58.0

-10.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.61

$0.49 MKD 25.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.60 MKD 400

$6.51 MKD 343

16.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 MKD 77.3

$1.43 MKD 75.6

2.80%

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

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

$27.2K MKD 1.4M

24.98%

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

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

$24.9K MKD 1.3M

19.02%

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

$160 MKD 8,446

$116 MKD 6,111

38.21%

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

$18.34 MKD 966

$17.27 MKD 910

6.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.13 MKD 1,008

$12.28 MKD 647

55.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.37 MKD 2,022

$25.78 MKD 1,359

48.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.56 MKD 925

$1.86 MKD 98.2

844.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 MKD 354

$3.36 MKD 177

100.00%

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

$312 MKD 16.5K

$218 MKD 11.5K

43.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,509 MKD 237.6K

$1,216 MKD 64.1K

270.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 MKD 4,067

$22.63 MKD 1,193

241.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.43 MKD 2,131

$19.03 MKD 1,003

112.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 MKD 5,275

$75.3 MKD 3,968

32.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 MKD 5,810

$113 MKD 5,981

-2.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 MKD 22.6K

$220 MKD 11.6K

95.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 MKD 16.3K

$175 MKD 9,198

77.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 MKD 34.0K

$293 MKD 15.4K

120.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 MKD 24.2K

$238 MKD 12.5K

92.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,801 MKD 147.6K

$1,239 MKD 65.3K

126.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,829 MKD 96.4K

$952 MKD 50.2K

92.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$913 MKD 48.1K

$606 MKD 31.9K

50.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

7.1

-36.06%

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

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Last update for Veles: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Skopje versus $220 in Veles. 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 51% 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 $19.00 in Veles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $163 – making Veles 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 Veles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skopje costs about 44% more than Veles, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,667 per month in Skopje and $1,156 in Veles. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Veles, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Skopje and $218 in Veles. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% 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 Veles, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Skopje at $1,112. In Veles it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Veles costs $770 versus $1,112 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 Veles. 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.