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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,039 per month in Tomsk vs $1,087 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Tomsk vs $1,634 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,134 per month in Tomsk vs $2,180 in Skopje, rent included.

Tomsk is about 4% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tomsk and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Tomsk 22% lower, Skopje 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.18 ₽485
$7.58 MKD 407
-18.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.94 ₽2,507
$33.45 MKD 1,794
-4.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 ₽442
$6.70 MKD 359
-15.97%
Cappuccino
$2.19 ₽172
$2.27 MKD 122
-3.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₽74.3
$2.03 MKD 109
-53.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₽35.91
$1.29 MKD 69.2
-64.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.30 ₽102
$2.66 MKD 143
-51.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 ₽234
$3.35 MKD 180
-11.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 ₽86.2
$1.29 MKD 69.4
-14.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 ₽45.90
$0.76 MKD 40.80
-23.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₽148
$1.67 MKD 89.6
12.57%
Eggs
$1.70 ₽133
$2.21 MKD 119
-23.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.66 ₽836
$9.13 MKD 490
16.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 ₽448
$7.78 MKD 417
-26.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.90 ₽699
$13.71 MKD 735
-35.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 ₽160
$1.06 MKD 57.1
92.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 ₽150
$1.43 MKD 76.8
33.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 ₽169
$1.35 MKD 72.5
59.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.73 ₽293
$2.17 MKD 116
71.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₽54.7
$0.89 MKD 47.75
-21.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 ₽42.47
$0.90 MKD 48.45
-40.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₽79.4
$0.69 MKD 36.92
46.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₽49.38
$0.55 MKD 29.70
14.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51 ₽197
$3.18 MKD 170
-21.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.01 ₽550
$7.26 MKD 389
-3.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₽72.6
$1.07 MKD 57.2
-14.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₽146
$1.52 MKD 81.5
22.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₽31.20
$0.76 MKD 40.94
-47.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.44 ₽2,075
$28.58 MKD 1,533
-7.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 ₽127
$0.96 MKD 51.6
68.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₽17.93
$0.48 MKD 26.01
-52.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.27 ₽492
$7.41 MKD 397
-15.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 ₽58.3
$1.49 MKD 79.7
-50.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K ₽2.4M
$33.7K MKD 1.8M
-7.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3K ₽3.2M
$29.3K MKD 1.6M
40.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 ₽8,858
$160 MKD 8,574
-29.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.13 ₽403
$18.05 MKD 968
-71.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.21 ₽644
$19.13 MKD 1,026
-57.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.1 ₽4,794
$38.66 MKD 2,074
57.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.73 ₽2,020
$17.36 MKD 931
48.21%
Cinema Ticket
$5.60 ₽439
$6.62 MKD 355
-15.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$75.3 ₽5,909
$320 MKD 17.2K
-76.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,491 ₽352.5K
$4,642 MKD 249.0K
-3.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.4 ₽5,920
$77.5 MKD 4,157
-2.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.99 ₽2,747
$40.16 MKD 2,154
-12.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 ₽10.7K
$100 MKD 5,364
35.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$187 ₽14.7K
$110 MKD 5,913
69.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$441 ₽34.6K
$425 MKD 22.8K
3.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 ₽21.5K
$310 MKD 16.6K
-11.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ₽57.5K
$645 MKD 34.6K
13.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ₽39.4K
$463 MKD 24.8K
8.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,339 ₽183.6K
$2,731 MKD 146.5K
-14.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 ₽131.5K
$1,740 MKD 93.3K
-3.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$939 ₽73.7K
$886 MKD 47.5K
6.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.08
4.54
386.34%

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

Last update for Tomsk: July 14, 2026

Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $441 in Tomsk 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 6% higher in Tomsk, 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 $32.00 in Tomsk versus $33.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $210 – 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 5% more than Tomsk, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,558 per month in Tomsk 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, 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 $75.3 per month in Tomsk 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 Tomsk or in Skopje?
Groceries cost about 3% 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 $800/month in Tomsk or in Skopje?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,039 in Tomsk and $1,087 in Skopje, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tomsk or Skopje?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tomsk costs $1,039 versus $1,087 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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