Cost of Living Comparison Between Sveti Nikole and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Sveti Nikole and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $887 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,112 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,621 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,759 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $2,130 in Skopje, rent included.

Sveti Nikole is about 20% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.74 MKD 302

$7.57 MKD 399

-24.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.63 MKD 1,509

$34.02 MKD 1,793

-15.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.21 MKD 275

$6.65 MKD 350

-21.65%

Cappuccino

$1.73 MKD 91.4

$2.19 MKD 115

-21.00%

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

$1.67 MKD 88.3

$1.94 MKD 102

-13.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 MKD 66.5

$1.28 MKD 67.5

-1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 MKD 116

$2.70 MKD 142

-18.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 MKD 142

$3.47 MKD 183

-22.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 68.1

$1.34 MKD 70.7

-3.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MKD 37.59

$0.82 MKD 43.38

-13.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MKD 90.7

$1.75 MKD 92.4

-1.71%

Eggs

$2.08 MKD 110

$2.19 MKD 115

-5.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.30 MKD 438

$9.22 MKD 486

-9.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 MKD 341

$7.99 MKD 421

-19.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 MKD 703

$13.63 MKD 719

-2.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 56.5

$1.01 MKD 53.4

5.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MKD 76.2

$1.41 MKD 74.5

2.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 MKD 66.7

$1.32 MKD 69.6

-3.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 MKD 83.1

$2.17 MKD 115

-27.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 49.70

$0.88 MKD 46.57

6.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 52.3

$0.92 MKD 48.53

7.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 MKD 32.51

$0.71 MKD 37.43

-12.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MKD 27.75

$0.58 MKD 30.60

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 MKD 161

$3.15 MKD 166

-2.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.48 MKD 341

$7.41 MKD 391

-12.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 53.3

$1.06 MKD 55.9

-4.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 MKD 76.8

$1.51 MKD 79.8

-3.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 MKD 34.20

$0.77 MKD 40.44

-15.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.07 MKD 1,058

$27.67 MKD 1,458

-27.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 MKD 68.2

$0.98 MKD 51.5

31.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.87

$0.49 MKD 25.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.44 MKD 339

$7.60 MKD 400

-15.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.5

$1.47 MKD 77.3

-2.72%

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

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

-5.70%

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

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

1.25%

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

$145 MKD 7,619

$160 MKD 8,446

-9.79%

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

$17.35 MKD 915

$18.34 MKD 966

-5.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.43 MKD 813

$19.13 MKD 1,008

-19.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.73 MKD 1,409

$38.37 MKD 2,022

-30.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.56 MKD 925

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 MKD 243

$6.72 MKD 354

-31.55%

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

$215 MKD 11.4K

$312 MKD 16.5K

-31.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,226 MKD 64.6K

$4,509 MKD 237.6K

-72.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 MKD 4,009

$77.2 MKD 4,067

-1.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.12 MKD 2,061

$40.43 MKD 2,131

-3.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 MKD 3,922

$100 MKD 5,275

-25.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,860

$110 MKD 5,810

0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 MKD 14.8K

$429 MKD 22.6K

-34.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 MKD 10.4K

$310 MKD 16.3K

-36.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 MKD 29.7K

$645 MKD 34.0K

-12.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MKD 16.3K

$459 MKD 24.2K

-32.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,644 MKD 86.6K

$2,801 MKD 147.6K

-41.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,276 MKD 67.3K

$1,829 MKD 96.4K

-30.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$568 MKD 29.9K

$913 MKD 48.1K

-37.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

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

Last update for Sveti Nikole: May 31, 2026

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Sveti Nikole 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 61% 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 $29.00 in Sveti Nikole versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $213 – making Sveti Nikole 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

Sveti Nikole vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skopje costs about 25% more than Sveti Nikole, 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 $1,331 per month in Sveti Nikole 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 Sveti Nikole, 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 Sveti Nikole 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 10% 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 Sveti Nikole, where all-in costs run around $887, than in Skopje at $1,112. In Sveti Nikole it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sveti Nikole costs $887 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 Sveti Nikole. 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.