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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $789 per month in Stip vs $1,105 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,143 per month in Stip vs $1,631 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,496 per month in Stip vs $2,156 in Skopje, rent included.

Stip is about 29% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Stip and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Stip 41% lower, Skopje 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.75 MKD 305

$7.49 MKD 397

-23.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.76 MKD 836

$34.48 MKD 1,830

-54.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 MKD 272

$6.75 MKD 358

-24.00%

Cappuccino

$1.90 MKD 101

$2.30 MKD 122

-17.39%

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

$1.82 MKD 96.4

$2.01 MKD 106

-9.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 MKD 67.4

$1.29 MKD 68.3

-1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 MKD 119

$2.60 MKD 138

-14.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 MKD 148

$3.30 MKD 175

-15.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 71.0

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MKD 37.79

$0.77 MKD 41.09

-7.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 MKD 61.2

$1.68 MKD 89.2

-31.55%

Eggs

$2.01 MKD 107

$2.19 MKD 116

-8.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 MKD 552

$9.35 MKD 496

11.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.10 MKD 377

$7.76 MKD 412

-8.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 MKD 405

$13.48 MKD 715

-43.32%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 52.0

$1.07 MKD 56.7

-8.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 76.2

$1.42 MKD 75.3

1.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 MKD 69.0

$1.38 MKD 73.2

-5.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 MKD 83.8

$2.08 MKD 110

-24.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 MKD 51.4

$0.88 MKD 46.94

10.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 74.0

$0.93 MKD 49.41

49.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 30.95

$0.69 MKD 36.58

-15.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 MKD 23.15

$0.56 MKD 29.71

-21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 MKD 157

$3.10 MKD 164

-4.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 MKD 399

$7.29 MKD 387

3.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MKD 54.0

$1.11 MKD 59.0

-8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 MKD 96.2

$1.52 MKD 80.6

19.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 MKD 33.31

$0.78 MKD 41.46

-19.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.24 MKD 1,074

$28.09 MKD 1,491

-27.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 59.0

$0.96 MKD 51.1

15.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.90

$0.50 MKD 26.27

-2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.54 MKD 294

$7.68 MKD 407

-27.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 MKD 76.7

$1.49 MKD 78.8

-2.68%

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

$31.4K MKD 1.7M

$33.4K MKD 1.8M

-5.86%

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

$33.2K MKD 1.8M

$29.1K MKD 1.5M

13.94%

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

$148 MKD 7,829

$159 MKD 8,449

-7.34%

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

$9.59 MKD 509

$18.34 MKD 973

-47.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.54 MKD 825

$19.12 MKD 1,015

-18.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.24 MKD 1,498

$39.05 MKD 2,072

-27.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.56 MKD 932

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 MKD 252

$6.47 MKD 343

-26.43%

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

$215 MKD 11.4K

$321 MKD 17.0K

-32.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,179 MKD 62.6K

$4,590 MKD 243.5K

-74.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.02 MKD 1,964

$78.4 MKD 4,161

-52.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 MKD 1,722

$39.02 MKD 2,070

-16.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 MKD 3,937

$100 MKD 5,328

-26.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,041

$113 MKD 5,970

1.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 MKD 11.0K

$429 MKD 22.7K

-51.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 MKD 7,053

$313 MKD 16.6K

-57.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$335 MKD 17.8K

$645 MKD 34.2K

-47.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 MKD 10.8K

$455 MKD 24.1K

-55.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,208 MKD 64.1K

$2,768 MKD 146.9K

-56.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$985 MKD 52.3K

$1,796 MKD 95.3K

-45.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$469 MKD 24.9K

$880 MKD 46.7K

-46.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

4.54

56.39%

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

Last update for Stip: June 8, 2026

Last update for Skopje: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $208 in Stip versus $429 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 88% 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 $16.00 in Stip versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $211 – 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 Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,184 per month in Stip and $1,657 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 $215 per month in Stip and $321 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% 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 $789, than in Skopje at $1,105. 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 $789 versus $1,105 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.