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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $883 per month in Strumica vs $1,087 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,273 per month in Strumica vs $1,634 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,663 per month in Strumica vs $2,180 in Skopje, rent included.

Strumica is about 19% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Strumica and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Strumica 34% lower, Skopje 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.78 MKD 203

$7.58 MKD 407

-50.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.20 MKD 1,513

$33.45 MKD 1,794

-15.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 MKD 265

$6.70 MKD 359

-26.27%

Cappuccino

$1.70 MKD 91.4

$2.27 MKD 122

-25.11%

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

$1.48 MKD 79.6

$2.03 MKD 109

-27.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MKD 62.4

$1.29 MKD 69.2

-10.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 MKD 104

$2.66 MKD 143

-27.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 MKD 124

$3.35 MKD 180

-31.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 MKD 75.4

$1.29 MKD 69.4

9.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 MKD 36.92

$0.76 MKD 40.80

-9.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 MKD 95.7

$1.67 MKD 89.6

6.59%

Eggs

$2.02 MKD 108

$2.21 MKD 119

-8.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.32 MKD 553

$9.13 MKD 490

13.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 MKD 338

$7.78 MKD 417

-19.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.48 MKD 562

$13.71 MKD 735

-23.56%

Apples (1kg)

$0.63 MKD 33.64

$1.06 MKD 57.1

-40.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 77.5

$1.43 MKD 76.8

0.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 MKD 64.0

$1.35 MKD 72.5

-11.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MKD 87.0

$2.17 MKD 116

-25.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 MKD 51.2

$0.89 MKD 47.75

6.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 MKD 43.95

$0.90 MKD 48.45

-8.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 MKD 30.58

$0.69 MKD 36.92

-17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MKD 28.74

$0.55 MKD 29.70

-1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.83 MKD 152

$3.18 MKD 170

-11.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.57 MKD 299

$7.26 MKD 389

-23.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 51.4

$1.07 MKD 57.2

-10.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 MKD 66.0

$1.52 MKD 81.5

-19.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MKD 39.51

$0.76 MKD 40.94

-2.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.36 MKD 1,092

$28.58 MKD 1,533

-28.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MKD 62.4

$0.96 MKD 51.6

20.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.14

$0.48 MKD 26.01

2.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 MKD 348

$7.41 MKD 397

-12.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MKD 77.0

$1.49 MKD 79.7

-3.36%

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

$32.3K MKD 1.7M

$33.7K MKD 1.8M

-3.96%

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

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

$29.3K MKD 1.6M

14.92%

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

$148 MKD 7,925

$160 MKD 8,574

-7.57%

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

$13.05 MKD 700

$18.05 MKD 968

-27.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.67 MKD 841

$19.13 MKD 1,026

-18.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.43 MKD 1,096

$38.66 MKD 2,074

-47.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.36 MKD 931

Cinema Ticket

$4.61 MKD 247

$6.62 MKD 355

-30.36%

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

$217 MKD 11.6K

$320 MKD 17.2K

-32.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,220 MKD 65.4K

$4,642 MKD 249.0K

-73.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MKD 4,071

$77.5 MKD 4,157

-2.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.46 MKD 2,600

$40.16 MKD 2,154

20.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.6 MKD 4,002

$100 MKD 5,364

-25.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.4 MKD 5,117

$110 MKD 5,913

-13.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 MKD 17.2K

$425 MKD 22.8K

-24.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 MKD 12.8K

$310 MKD 16.6K

-22.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 MKD 26.7K

$645 MKD 34.6K

-22.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 MKD 16.0K

$463 MKD 24.8K

-35.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,456 MKD 78.1K

$2,731 MKD 146.5K

-46.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$995 MKD 53.3K

$1,740 MKD 93.3K

-42.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$651 MKD 34.9K

$886 MKD 47.5K

-26.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

-11.89%

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

Last update for Strumica: July 11, 2026

Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Strumica versus $425 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 36% 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 $28.00 in Strumica versus $33.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $210 – 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 23% 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 $1,324 per month in Strumica and $1,631 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.

Kindergarten costs $217 per month in Strumica and $320 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $883 in Strumica and $1,087 in Skopje, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Strumica costs $883 versus $1,087 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.