Cost of Living Comparison Between Tomsk and SkopjeCost 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 – Tomsk26% lower, Skopje15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.08₽699
$9.46MKD 499
-14.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.03₽2,512
$33.97MKD 1,791
-14.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.12₽443
$6.73MKD 355
-23.92%
Cappuccino
$2.36₽204
$2.13MKD 113
10.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92₽79.3
$1.88MKD 99.0
-51.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₽34.92
$1.30MKD 68.6
-69.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.93₽80.6
$2.77MKD 146
-66.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39₽293
$3.15MKD 166
7.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16₽101
$1.29MKD 68.1
-10.08%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₽63.6
$0.82MKD 43.10
-10.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08₽93.3
$1.90MKD 100.0
-43.16%
Eggs
$1.31₽113
$2.47MKD 130
-46.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.91₽1,030
$8.81MKD 465
35.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.56₽394
$7.56MKD 399
-39.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.40₽900
$15.11MKD 797
-31.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59₽138
$1.48MKD 78.0
7.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₽158
$1.50MKD 79.0
22.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89₽164
$1.38MKD 72.7
36.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85₽247
$2.06MKD 109
38.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54₽46.47
$0.88MKD 46.27
-38.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36₽31.58
$0.84MKD 44.20
-57.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30₽113
$0.65MKD 34.15
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58₽50.3
$0.58MKD 30.79
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75₽238
$3.66MKD 193
-24.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.48₽561
$7.47MKD 394
-13.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92₽79.6
$1.04MKD 55.1
-11.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78₽154
$1.58MKD 83.4
12.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.41₽35.24
$0.78MKD 41.25
-47.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.96₽689
$27.82MKD 1,467
-71.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.34₽202
$1.12MKD 59.0
108.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₽18.99
$0.67MKD 35.46
-67.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.33₽548
$7.89MKD 416
-19.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74₽64.3
$1.62MKD 85.2
-54.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K₽3.0M
$37.5KMKD 2.0M
-8.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K₽2.6M
$28.0KMKD 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
$166MKD 8,729
-26.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.96₽602
$19.14MKD 1,009
-63.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.57₽915
$19.69MKD 1,038
-46.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.06₽4,073
$38.57MKD 2,034
22.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91₽1,377
$18.23MKD 961
-12.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06₽438
$7.31MKD 385
-30.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$231₽20.0K
$390MKD 20.5K
-40.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,550MKD 292.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.1₽8,052
$89.6MKD 4,723
3.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3₽4,782
$40.15MKD 2,117
37.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125₽10.8K
$107MKD 5,667
16.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132₽11.4K
$116MKD 6,137
13.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₽43.3K
$445MKD 23.5K
12.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$318₽27.5K
$336MKD 17.7K
-5.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$776₽67.2K
$764MKD 40.3K
1.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490₽42.4K
$530MKD 27.9K
-7.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,094₽181.2K
$2,710MKD 142.9K
-22.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,400₽121.1K
$1,869MKD 98.6K
-25.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tomsk
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$830₽71.8K
$896MKD 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.