Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,112 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,621 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,130 in Skopje, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 9% more than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Skopje 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.69
$7.57 MKD 399
42.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$34.02 MKD 1,791
26.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.02
$6.65 MKD 350
24.66%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.96
$2.19 MKD 115
36.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.94 MKD 102
-57.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$1.28 MKD 67.5
-64.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$2.70 MKD 142
-17.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.74
$3.47 MKD 183
-15.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.34 MKD 70.6
44.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$0.82 MKD 43.34
-17.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.99
$1.75 MKD 92.4
7.43%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.73
$2.19 MKD 115
15.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.69
$9.22 MKD 485
-19.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.43
$7.99 MKD 421
-22.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.86
$13.63 MKD 718
-31.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$1.01 MKD 53.3
20.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.41 MKD 74.4
17.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.32 MKD 69.6
36.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.95
$2.17 MKD 114
3.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$0.88 MKD 46.53
-19.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$0.92 MKD 48.49
-27.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$0.71 MKD 37.39
66.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.58 MKD 30.57
13.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$3.15 MKD 166
-5.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.20
$7.41 MKD 390
2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.06 MKD 55.8
45.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.98
$1.51 MKD 79.7
49.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.77 MKD 40.40
-53.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.35
$27.67 MKD 1,457
-47.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.96
$0.98 MKD 51.4
52.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$0.49 MKD 25.59
38.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.19
$7.60 MKD 400
-4.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$1.47 MKD 77.3
-22.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$34.0K MKD 1.8M
-45.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.0K
$29.6K MKD 1.6M
-32.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$160 MKD 8,438
-54.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.90
$18.34 MKD 965
-36.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.38
$19.13 MKD 1,007
-6.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$38.37 MKD 2,020
56.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.62
$17.56 MKD 925
-4.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.54
$6.72 MKD 354
-1.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾707
$312 MKD 16.4K
-14.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$4,509 MKD 237.4K
15.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$77.2 MKD 4,063
0.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$40.43 MKD 2,129
10.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$100 MKD 5,270
16.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$110 MKD 5,804
2.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,839
$429 MKD 22.6K
61.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,226
$310 MKD 16.3K
48.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,504
$645 MKD 34.0K
104.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,056
$459 MKD 24.1K
68.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,454
$2,801 MKD 147.5K
-13.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,839
$1,829 MKD 96.3K
-20.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,786
$913 MKD 48.1K
-26.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
4.54
161.89%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi 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 36% higher in Skopje, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $34.00 in Skopje. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $213 in Skopje – so Tbilisi 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
Tbilisi vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Skopje?
Tbilisi costs about 9% more than Skopje, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi vs Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,667 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Skopje?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Skopje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Tbilisi and $312 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Skopje?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Skopje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,112, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Skopje?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skopje costs $1,112 versus $1,209 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Skopje?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or Skopje?
If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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