Cost of Living Comparison Between Struga and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Struga and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $862 per month in Struga vs $1,147 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,320 per month in Struga vs $1,735 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,778 per month in Struga vs $2,323 in Skopje, rent included.

Struga is about 25% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Struga and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Struga 37% lower, Skopje 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Struga
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69 MKD 403
$9.55 MKD 501
-19.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.26 MKD 1,534
$33.95 MKD 1,780
-13.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.06 MKD 265
$6.66 MKD 349
-24.02%
Cappuccino
$1.54 MKD 80.8
$2.18 MKD 114
-29.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 MKD 92.0
$1.84 MKD 96.6
-4.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 MKD 62.8
$1.23 MKD 64.3
-2.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 MKD 151
$2.76 MKD 145
4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 MKD 167
$3.24 MKD 170
-1.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Struga
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 MKD 64.9
$1.32 MKD 69.3
-6.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 MKD 34.51
$0.76 MKD 39.84
-13.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MKD 81.7
$1.92 MKD 101
-18.75%
Eggs
$1.90 MKD 99.5
$2.54 MKD 133
-25.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.08 MKD 371
$8.91 MKD 467
-20.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.07 MKD 318
$7.72 MKD 405
-21.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.47 MKD 601
$14.61 MKD 766
-21.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.26 MKD 65.9
$1.42 MKD 74.3
-11.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 MKD 72.9
$1.42 MKD 74.4
-2.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 MKD 66.6
$1.34 MKD 70.4
-5.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 MKD 80.4
$2.09 MKD 110
-26.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 MKD 45.13
$0.91 MKD 47.51
-5.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 MKD 45.08
$0.90 MKD 47.41
-4.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 MKD 31.67
$0.64 MKD 33.36
-6.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MKD 30.81
$0.62 MKD 32.63
-4.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.48 MKD 182
$3.67 MKD 192
-5.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.82 MKD 200
$7.67 MKD 402
-50.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 MKD 57.5
$1.08 MKD 56.8
1.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MKD 79.2
$1.55 MKD 81.4
-2.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Struga
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 MKD 46.84
$0.77 MKD 40.58
15.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.6 MKD 3,019
$28.28 MKD 1,483
103.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 MKD 60.4
$1.14 MKD 60.0
0.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 MKD 33.59
$0.63 MKD 33.26
1.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 MKD 270
$7.87 MKD 413
-34.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MKD 77.2
$1.54 MKD 80.7
-4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K MKD 1.9M
$36.6K MKD 1.9M
0.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K MKD 1.5M
$28.0K MKD 1.5M
1.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Struga
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 MKD 5,325
$160 MKD 8,412
-36.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.32 MKD 594
$18.89 MKD 990
-40.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.64 MKD 1,030
$19.61 MKD 1,028
0.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Struga
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.67 MKD 1,084
$37.89 MKD 1,986
-45.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.14 MKD 636
$18.26 MKD 957
-33.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.77 MKD 355
$6.75 MKD 354
0.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Struga
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$122 MKD 6,377
$381 MKD 20.0K
-68.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,656 MKD 86.8K
$5,681 MKD 297.9K
-70.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Struga
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0 MKD 4,773
$89.5 MKD 4,692
1.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.13 MKD 1,685
$39.39 MKD 2,065
-18.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 MKD 3,952
$109 MKD 5,708
-30.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.3 MKD 2,900
$117 MKD 6,146
-52.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Struga
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$280 MKD 14.7K
$432 MKD 22.7K
-35.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$227 MKD 11.9K
$336 MKD 17.6K
-32.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 MKD 23.7K
$751 MKD 39.4K
-39.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 MKD 19.4K
$544 MKD 28.5K
-31.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,565 MKD 82.1K
$2,722 MKD 142.7K
-42.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,419 MKD 74.4K
$1,839 MKD 96.4K
-22.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Struga
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$901 MKD 47.2K
$881 MKD 46.2K
2.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.75
4.25
-11.76%

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

Last update for Struga: August 16, 2026

Last update for Skopje: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Struga versus $432 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 2% higher in Struga, 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 $29.00 in Struga versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $218 – making Struga 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
Struga vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Struga or Skopje?
Skopje costs about 33% more than Struga, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Struga and in Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,293 per month in Struga and $1,721 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Struga or Skopje?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Struga, 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 Struga and in Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $122 per month in Struga and $381 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Struga or in Skopje?
Groceries cost about 24% 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 $2,000/month in Struga or in Skopje?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Struga, where all-in costs run around $862, than in Skopje at $1,147. In Struga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Struga or Skopje?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Struga costs $862 versus $1,147 in Skopje. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Struga compared to Skopje?
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.
Should I move to Struga or to Skopje?
If budget matters most, go with Struga. 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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