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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,087 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,634 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,180 in Skopje, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 10% more than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Skopje 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.38
$7.58 MKD 407
42.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$33.45 MKD 1,796
31.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.79
$6.70 MKD 360
24.03%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.27 MKD 122
30.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$2.03 MKD 109
-62.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$1.29 MKD 69.3
-64.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$2.66 MKD 143
-19.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$3.35 MKD 180
-14.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$1.29 MKD 69.5
47.29%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$0.76 MKD 40.83
-6.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$1.67 MKD 89.7
14.37%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$2.21 MKD 119
12.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$9.13 MKD 490
-15.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.20
$7.78 MKD 418
-20.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.11
$13.71 MKD 736
-30.20%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$1.06 MKD 57.1
10.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$1.43 MKD 76.8
15.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$1.35 MKD 72.6
37.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$2.17 MKD 116
7.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$0.89 MKD 47.79
-20.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$0.90 MKD 48.49
-25.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$0.69 MKD 36.95
72.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.55 MKD 29.72
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$3.18 MKD 171
-8.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.17
$7.26 MKD 390
5.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$1.07 MKD 57.3
48.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$1.52 MKD 81.5
51.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.76 MKD 40.98
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.71
$28.58 MKD 1,534
-48.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$0.96 MKD 51.6
56.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.48 MKD 26.03
41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.03
$7.41 MKD 398
-2.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$1.49 MKD 79.7
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$33.7K MKD 1.8M
-44.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$29.3K MKD 1.6M
-30.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾191
$160 MKD 8,580
-54.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.40
$18.05 MKD 969
-33.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.21
$19.13 MKD 1,027
-5.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$38.66 MKD 2,075
57.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.33
$17.36 MKD 932
-4.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$6.62 MKD 356
1.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$320 MKD 17.2K
-16.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$4,642 MKD 249.2K
10.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$77.5 MKD 4,160
-1.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$40.16 MKD 2,156
8.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$100 MKD 5,368
20.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$110 MKD 5,918
0.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,802
$425 MKD 22.8K
61.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$310 MKD 16.6K
51.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,549
$645 MKD 34.6K
109.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$463 MKD 24.8K
70.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,472
$2,731 MKD 146.6K
-9.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,817
$1,740 MKD 93.4K
-16.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
$886 MKD 47.6K
-25.60%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi 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 34% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $33.00 in Skopje. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Tbilisi vs $210 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 10% 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 and in Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,631 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 in Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Tbilisi and $320 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 in Skopje?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% 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 in Skopje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,087, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. 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 $1,087 versus $1,197 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 to 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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