Cost of Living Comparison Between Tomsk and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Tomsk and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Tomsk vs $1,168 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,514 per month in Tomsk vs $1,738 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,010 per month in Tomsk vs $2,308 in Skopje, rent included.

Tomsk is about 13% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tomsk and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Tomsk 26% lower, Skopje 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.08 ₽699
$9.46 MKD 499
-14.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.03 ₽2,512
$33.97 MKD 1,791
-14.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.12 ₽443
$6.73 MKD 355
-23.92%
Cappuccino
$2.36 ₽204
$2.13 MKD 113
10.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₽79.3
$1.88 MKD 99.0
-51.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₽34.92
$1.30 MKD 68.6
-69.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ₽80.6
$2.77 MKD 146
-66.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ₽293
$3.15 MKD 166
7.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 ₽101
$1.29 MKD 68.1
-10.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₽63.6
$0.82 MKD 43.10
-10.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 ₽93.3
$1.90 MKD 100.0
-43.16%
Eggs
$1.31 ₽113
$2.47 MKD 130
-46.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.91 ₽1,030
$8.81 MKD 465
35.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.56 ₽394
$7.56 MKD 399
-39.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.40 ₽900
$15.11 MKD 797
-31.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.59 ₽138
$1.48 MKD 78.0
7.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₽158
$1.50 MKD 79.0
22.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₽164
$1.38 MKD 72.7
36.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 ₽247
$2.06 MKD 109
38.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 ₽46.47
$0.88 MKD 46.27
-38.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₽31.58
$0.84 MKD 44.20
-57.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 ₽113
$0.65 MKD 34.15
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₽50.3
$0.58 MKD 30.79
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75 ₽238
$3.66 MKD 193
-24.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.48 ₽561
$7.47 MKD 394
-13.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₽79.6
$1.04 MKD 55.1
-11.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ₽154
$1.58 MKD 83.4
12.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 ₽35.24
$0.78 MKD 41.25
-47.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.96 ₽689
$27.82 MKD 1,467
-71.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 ₽202
$1.12 MKD 59.0
108.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₽18.99
$0.67 MKD 35.46
-67.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.33 ₽548
$7.89 MKD 416
-19.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 ₽64.3
$1.62 MKD 85.2
-54.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₽3.0M
$37.5K MKD 2.0M
-8.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K ₽2.6M
$28.0K MKD 1.5M
7.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ₽10.5K
$166 MKD 8,729
-26.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.96 ₽602
$19.14 MKD 1,009
-63.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.57 ₽915
$19.69 MKD 1,038
-46.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.06 ₽4,073
$38.57 MKD 2,034
22.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91 ₽1,377
$18.23 MKD 961
-12.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06 ₽438
$7.31 MKD 385
-30.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$231 ₽20.0K
$390 MKD 20.5K
-40.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,550 MKD 292.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.1 ₽8,052
$89.6 MKD 4,723
3.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 ₽4,782
$40.15 MKD 2,117
37.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₽10.8K
$107 MKD 5,667
16.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 ₽11.4K
$116 MKD 6,137
13.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₽43.3K
$445 MKD 23.5K
12.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$318 ₽27.5K
$336 MKD 17.7K
-5.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$776 ₽67.2K
$764 MKD 40.3K
1.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$490 ₽42.4K
$530 MKD 27.9K
-7.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,094 ₽181.2K
$2,710 MKD 142.9K
-22.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,400 ₽121.1K
$1,869 MKD 98.6K
-25.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$830 ₽71.8K
$896 MKD 47.3K
-7.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22
4.25
417.65%

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

Last update for Tomsk: August 30, 2026

Last update for Skopje: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Tomsk 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 8% 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 Tomsk versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $218 – making Tomsk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Tomsk vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tomsk or Skopje?
Skopje costs about 15% more than Tomsk, 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 Tomsk and in Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,526 per month in Tomsk and $1,752 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tomsk or Skopje?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tomsk, 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 Tomsk and in Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $231 per month in Tomsk and $390 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 Tomsk or in Skopje?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Skopje, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tomsk or in Skopje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tomsk, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Skopje at $1,168. In Tomsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tomsk or Skopje?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tomsk costs $1,017 versus $1,168 in Skopje. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tomsk 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 Tomsk or to Skopje?
If budget matters most, go with Tomsk. 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.

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