Cost of Living Comparison Between Strumica and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Strumica and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $910 per month in Strumica vs $1,182 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,275 per month in Strumica vs $1,723 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,640 per month in Strumica vs $2,263 in Skopje, rent included.

Strumica is about 23% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Strumica and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Strumica 34% lower, Skopje 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.68 MKD 194

$9.68 MKD 511

-61.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.33 MKD 1,233

$34.37 MKD 1,816

-32.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.84 MKD 203

$6.65 MKD 351

-42.26%

Cappuccino

$1.60 MKD 84.4

$2.23 MKD 118

-28.25%

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

$1.43 MKD 75.6

$1.86 MKD 98.5

-23.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 MKD 63.9

$1.28 MKD 67.6

-5.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 MKD 103

$2.81 MKD 148

-30.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 MKD 109

$3.25 MKD 172

-36.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 67.9

$1.33 MKD 70.4

-3.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MKD 43.56

$0.78 MKD 41.46

5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 MKD 95.9

$1.94 MKD 102

-6.70%

Eggs

$2.31 MKD 122

$2.47 MKD 131

-6.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.61 MKD 455

$8.73 MKD 461

-1.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 MKD 334

$7.49 MKD 396

-15.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.37 MKD 548

$15.07 MKD 796

-31.19%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 MKD 36.57

$1.53 MKD 80.7

-54.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MKD 78.2

$1.50 MKD 79.0

-1.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 MKD 66.2

$1.38 MKD 73.0

-9.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 MKD 113

$2.08 MKD 110

2.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 MKD 45.71

$0.92 MKD 48.78

-5.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 44.32

$0.84 MKD 44.24

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 MKD 34.12

$0.62 MKD 32.51

4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MKD 32.97

$0.57 MKD 30.31

8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 MKD 148

$3.63 MKD 192

-22.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.75 MKD 304

$7.37 MKD 389

-21.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 MKD 49.52

$1.09 MKD 57.5

-13.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 MKD 66.2

$1.56 MKD 82.3

-19.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MKD 41.44

$0.80 MKD 42.10

-2.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.14 MKD 1,487

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 58.5

$1.11 MKD 58.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 MKD 34.15

$0.68 MKD 35.75

-4.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 MKD 426

$7.98 MKD 422

1.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 MKD 84.3

$1.54 MKD 81.2

3.90%

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

$36.6K MKD 1.9M

$37.0K MKD 2.0M

-1.01%

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

$28.6K MKD 1.5M

$28.4K MKD 1.5M

0.87%

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

$154 MKD 8,154

$168 MKD 8,854

-7.91%

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

$13.20 MKD 697

$19.55 MKD 1,033

-32.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.60 MKD 983

$19.73 MKD 1,042

-5.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.43 MKD 1,079

$38.05 MKD 2,010

-46.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.83 MKD 942

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 MKD 374

$7.13 MKD 377

-0.84%

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

$383 MKD 20.2K

$389 MKD 20.5K

-1.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,508 MKD 291.0K

$5,501 MKD 290.6K

0.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.7 MKD 4,842

$91.6 MKD 4,837

0.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 MKD 2,078

$39.71 MKD 2,098

-0.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MKD 5,810

$107 MKD 5,629

3.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.1 MKD 5,024

$114 MKD 6,023

-16.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 MKD 17.0K

$443 MKD 23.4K

-27.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 MKD 12.7K

$339 MKD 17.9K

-29.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 MKD 26.7K

$750 MKD 39.6K

-32.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 MKD 15.6K

$535 MKD 28.3K

-44.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,535 MKD 81.1K

$2,778 MKD 146.8K

-44.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,008 MKD 53.3K

$1,892 MKD 99.9K

-46.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$653 MKD 34.5K

$906 MKD 47.9K

-27.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

-5.88%

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

Last update for Strumica: September 6, 2026

Last update for Skopje: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $323 in Strumica versus $443 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 39% 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 $23.00 in Strumica versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $217 – making Strumica 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

Strumica vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skopje costs about 30% more than Strumica, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,366 per month in Strumica and $1,774 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $910 in Strumica and $1,182 in Skopje. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $383 per month in Strumica and $389 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Strumica, where all-in costs run around $910, than in Skopje at $1,182. In Strumica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Strumica costs $910 versus $1,182 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 Strumica. 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.