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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $882 per month in Strumica vs $1,112 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,258 per month in Strumica vs $1,621 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,634 per month in Strumica vs $2,130 in Skopje, rent included.

Strumica is about 21% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Strumica and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Strumica 34% lower, Skopje 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.83 MKD 202

$7.57 MKD 399

-49.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.98 MKD 1,475

$34.02 MKD 1,793

-17.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 MKD 270

$6.65 MKD 350

-22.86%

Cappuccino

$1.64 MKD 86.5

$2.19 MKD 115

-25.11%

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

$1.53 MKD 80.9

$1.94 MKD 102

-21.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 MKD 60.2

$1.28 MKD 67.5

-10.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 MKD 101

$2.70 MKD 142

-28.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 MKD 119

$3.47 MKD 183

-34.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 MKD 71.3

$1.34 MKD 70.7

0.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 MKD 38.35

$0.82 MKD 43.38

-10.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 MKD 92.6

$1.75 MKD 92.4

0.57%

Eggs

$2.05 MKD 108

$2.19 MKD 115

-6.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.30 MKD 543

$9.22 MKD 486

11.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 MKD 339

$7.99 MKD 421

-19.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 MKD 548

$13.63 MKD 719

-23.77%

Apples (1kg)

$0.68 MKD 35.72

$1.01 MKD 53.4

-32.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 73.3

$1.41 MKD 74.5

-1.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 MKD 62.6

$1.32 MKD 69.6

-9.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 MKD 82.8

$2.17 MKD 115

-27.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 47.01

$0.88 MKD 46.57

1.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 MKD 43.56

$0.92 MKD 48.53

-9.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 30.73

$0.71 MKD 37.43

-18.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MKD 30.12

$0.58 MKD 30.60

-1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 MKD 147

$3.15 MKD 166

-11.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 MKD 292

$7.41 MKD 391

-25.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 MKD 47.91

$1.06 MKD 55.9

-14.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 MKD 63.2

$1.51 MKD 79.8

-20.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MKD 41.24

$0.77 MKD 40.44

1.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.41 MKD 1,075

$27.67 MKD 1,458

-26.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MKD 60.8

$0.98 MKD 51.5

17.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.80

$0.49 MKD 25.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.68 MKD 352

$7.60 MKD 400

-12.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MKD 79.2

$1.47 MKD 77.3

2.04%

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

$32.5K MKD 1.7M

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

-4.46%

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

$33.4K MKD 1.8M

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

12.87%

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

$146 MKD 7,709

$160 MKD 8,446

-8.72%

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

$13.16 MKD 694

$18.34 MKD 966

-28.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.48 MKD 816

$19.13 MKD 1,008

-19.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.48 MKD 1,079

$38.37 MKD 2,022

-46.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.56 MKD 925

Cinema Ticket

$4.56 MKD 241

$6.72 MKD 354

-32.14%

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

$215 MKD 11.3K

$312 MKD 16.5K

-31.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,202 MKD 63.4K

$4,509 MKD 237.6K

-73.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.4 MKD 3,974

$77.2 MKD 4,067

-2.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.43 MKD 2,500

$40.43 MKD 2,131

17.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.6 MKD 3,879

$100 MKD 5,275

-26.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.8 MKD 4,943

$110 MKD 5,810

-14.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 MKD 16.9K

$429 MKD 22.6K

-25.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MKD 12.8K

$310 MKD 16.3K

-21.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 MKD 26.7K

$645 MKD 34.0K

-21.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 MKD 16.0K

$459 MKD 24.2K

-33.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,502 MKD 79.2K

$2,801 MKD 147.6K

-46.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$994 MKD 52.4K

$1,829 MKD 96.4K

-45.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$649 MKD 34.2K

$913 MKD 48.1K

-28.90%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Strumica 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 41% 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 $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $213 – 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 26% 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 $1,323 per month in Strumica and $1,667 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 $215 per month in Strumica and $312 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Strumica, where all-in costs run around $882, than in Skopje at $1,112. 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 $882 versus $1,112 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.