Cost of Living Comparison Between Stip and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Stip and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $818 per month in Stip vs $1,143 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,227 per month in Stip vs $1,720 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,636 per month in Stip vs $2,296 in Skopje, rent included.

Stip is about 28% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Stip and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Stip 40% lower, Skopje 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 MKD 403

$9.35 MKD 497

-18.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.87 MKD 1,270

$35.06 MKD 1,864

-31.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.62 MKD 352

$6.78 MKD 360

-2.36%

Cappuccino

$1.86 MKD 99.2

$2.18 MKD 116

-14.68%

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

$1.47 MKD 78.0

$1.90 MKD 101

-22.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MKD 61.7

$1.36 MKD 72.5

-14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 MKD 98.4

$2.76 MKD 147

-32.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 MKD 150

$3.35 MKD 178

-15.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 MKD 67.2

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 MKD 43.03

$0.81 MKD 43.24

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 MKD 61.8

$1.89 MKD 101

-38.62%

Eggs

$2.58 MKD 137

$2.52 MKD 134

2.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.56 MKD 455

$8.49 MKD 452

0.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 MKD 401

$7.38 MKD 393

2.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 MKD 397

$15.17 MKD 807

-50.76%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.36

$1.47 MKD 78.1

-38.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 74.0

$1.42 MKD 75.3

-2.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 72.2

$1.35 MKD 71.6

0.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 MKD 87.6

$2.10 MKD 112

-21.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 47.27

$0.85 MKD 45.28

4.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 MKD 42.91

$0.81 MKD 43.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 MKD 28.79

$0.64 MKD 33.94

-15.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 MKD 23.37

$0.61 MKD 32.55

-27.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.37 MKD 179

$3.47 MKD 184

-2.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.53 MKD 400

$7.33 MKD 390

2.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MKD 58.1

$1.06 MKD 56.2

2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MKD 80.7

$1.52 MKD 81.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 MKD 33.84

$0.77 MKD 40.88

-16.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.64 MKD 1,204

$28.58 MKD 1,520

-20.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 59.2

$1.15 MKD 61.0

-3.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MKD 34.00

$0.62 MKD 33.22

3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 MKD 303

$7.97 MKD 424

-28.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MKD 80.9

$1.59 MKD 84.3

-4.40%

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

$35.9K MKD 1.9M

$36.7K MKD 1.9M

-2.02%

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

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

$28.4K MKD 1.5M

-1.60%

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

$162 MKD 8,598

$160 MKD 8,502

1.13%

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

$9.28 MKD 493

$18.86 MKD 1,003

-50.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.90 MKD 899

$19.61 MKD 1,043

-13.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.33 MKD 1,506

$36.62 MKD 1,947

-22.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.67 MKD 940

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 MKD 352

$7.73 MKD 411

-14.49%

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

$362 MKD 19.2K

$364 MKD 19.4K

-0.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,660 MKD 301.0K

$5,701 MKD 303.2K

-0.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.43 MKD 1,990

$88.4 MKD 4,702

-57.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.64 MKD 1,682

$38.29 MKD 2,036

-17.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MKD 5,602

$107 MKD 5,690

-1.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MKD 6,102

$119 MKD 6,307

-3.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 MKD 10.9K

$439 MKD 23.3K

-53.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$130 MKD 6,931

$332 MKD 17.7K

-60.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 MKD 18.1K

$763 MKD 40.6K

-55.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MKD 10.8K

$522 MKD 27.8K

-61.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,222 MKD 65.0K

$2,748 MKD 146.1K

-55.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,002 MKD 53.3K

$1,838 MKD 97.7K

-45.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$469 MKD 25.0K

$920 MKD 48.9K

-48.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

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

Last update for Stip: September 15, 2026

Last update for Skopje: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $205 in Stip versus $439 in Skopje. 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 96% 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 $24.00 in Stip versus $35.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $215 – making Stip 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

Stip vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skopje costs about 40% more than Stip, 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 $1,227 per month in Stip and $1,715 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $362 per month in Stip and $364 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Stip, where all-in costs run around $818, than in Skopje at $1,143. In Stip it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Stip costs $818 versus $1,143 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 Stip. 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.