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 $894 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,168 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,352 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,738 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,811 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $2,308 in Skopje, rent included.

Sveti Nikole is about 23% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sveti Nikole and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Sveti Nikole 35% lower, Skopje 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.38 MKD 495

$9.46 MKD 499

-0.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.67 MKD 1,828

$33.97 MKD 1,791

2.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 MKD 285

$6.73 MKD 355

-19.76%

Cappuccino

$1.75 MKD 92.1

$2.13 MKD 113

-17.84%

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

$1.45 MKD 76.5

$1.88 MKD 99.0

-22.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 53.5

$1.30 MKD 68.6

-22.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 MKD 83.3

$2.77 MKD 146

-42.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 MKD 98.3

$3.15 MKD 166

-40.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 74.1

$1.29 MKD 68.1

8.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 MKD 29.58

$0.82 MKD 43.10

-31.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MKD 63.3

$1.90 MKD 100.0

-36.84%

Eggs

$2.55 MKD 135

$2.47 MKD 130

3.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 MKD 509

$8.81 MKD 465

9.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 MKD 245

$7.56 MKD 399

-38.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.40 MKD 654

$15.11 MKD 797

-17.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 73.4

$1.48 MKD 78.0

-6.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.6

$1.50 MKD 79.0

-9.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 71.4

$1.38 MKD 72.7

-2.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 MKD 93.8

$2.06 MKD 109

-13.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 MKD 41.50

$0.88 MKD 46.27

-10.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MKD 63.9

$0.84 MKD 44.20

44.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 MKD 43.89

$0.65 MKD 34.15

27.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 MKD 21.58

$0.58 MKD 30.79

-29.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 MKD 165

$3.66 MKD 193

-14.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 MKD 340

$7.47 MKD 394

-13.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MKD 55.8

$1.04 MKD 55.1

1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MKD 77.7

$1.58 MKD 83.4

-6.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MKD 41.20

$0.78 MKD 41.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.00 MKD 1,318

$27.82 MKD 1,467

-10.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 MKD 81.8

$1.12 MKD 59.0

38.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 MKD 56.0

$0.67 MKD 35.46

58.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.83 MKD 202

$7.89 MKD 416

-51.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MKD 76.1

$1.62 MKD 85.2

-11.11%

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

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

$37.5K MKD 2.0M

-9.68%

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

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

0.18%

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

$152 MKD 8,017

$166 MKD 8,729

-8.16%

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

$15.96 MKD 841

$19.14 MKD 1,009

-16.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.48 MKD 658

$19.69 MKD 1,038

-36.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.62 MKD 1,245

$38.57 MKD 2,034

-38.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 MKD 885

$18.23 MKD 961

-7.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 MKD 275

$7.31 MKD 385

-28.73%

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

$356 MKD 18.8K

$390 MKD 20.5K

-8.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,864 MKD 256.5K

$5,550 MKD 292.7K

-12.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 MKD 4,062

$89.6 MKD 4,723

-13.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.42 MKD 1,762

$40.15 MKD 2,117

-16.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 MKD 4,410

$107 MKD 5,667

-22.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 MKD 4,685

$116 MKD 6,137

-23.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 MKD 16.5K

$445 MKD 23.5K

-29.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 MKD 9,690

$336 MKD 17.7K

-45.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 MKD 25.9K

$764 MKD 40.3K

-35.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 MKD 16.1K

$530 MKD 27.9K

-42.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,613 MKD 85.0K

$2,710 MKD 142.9K

-40.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,204 MKD 63.5K

$1,869 MKD 98.6K

-35.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$569 MKD 30.0K

$896 MKD 47.3K

-36.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

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

Last update for Sveti Nikole: August 29, 2026

Last update for Skopje: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $312 in Sveti Nikole versus $445 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 57% 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 $35.00 in Sveti Nikole versus $34.00 in Skopje. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Sveti Nikole vs $218 in Skopje – so Sveti Nikole wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 31% more than Sveti Nikole, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,341 per month in Sveti Nikole and $1,752 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 $356 per month in Sveti Nikole and $390 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $894, than in Skopje at $1,168. 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 $894 versus $1,168 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.