Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,112 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,621 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,130 in Skopje, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 28% more than Skopje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Skopje is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

$7.57 MKD 399

-52.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

$34.02 MKD 1,791

-3.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

$6.65 MKD 350

-25.56%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

$2.19 MKD 115

23.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

$1.94 MKD 102

-30.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$1.28 MKD 67.5

-45.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

$2.70 MKD 142

8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

$3.47 MKD 183

14.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

$1.34 MKD 70.6

35.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

$0.82 MKD 43.34

207.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

$1.75 MKD 92.4

-33.71%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

$2.19 MKD 115

12.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

$9.22 MKD 485

59.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

$7.99 MKD 421

-45.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

$13.63 MKD 718

-10.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

$1.01 MKD 53.3

280.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$1.41 MKD 74.4

10.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

$1.32 MKD 69.6

114.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$2.17 MKD 114

7.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

$0.88 MKD 46.53

117.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

$0.92 MKD 48.49

139.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

$0.71 MKD 37.39

42.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

$0.58 MKD 30.57

34.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$3.15 MKD 166

5.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

$7.41 MKD 390

220.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$1.06 MKD 55.8

163.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

$1.51 MKD 79.7

89.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,848

$0.77 MKD 40.40

-64.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

$27.67 MKD 1,457

-70.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,230

$0.98 MKD 51.4

-53.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,116

$0.49 MKD 25.59

-8.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

$7.60 MKD 400

-19.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$1.47 MKD 77.3

-46.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

-23.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

8.56%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$160 MKD 8,438

-50.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

$18.34 MKD 965

-77.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

$19.13 MKD 1,007

22.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$38.37 MKD 2,020

157.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

$17.56 MKD 925

-62.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

$6.72 MKD 354

-38.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.5M

$312 MKD 16.4K

-2.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

$4,509 MKD 237.4K

46.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

$77.2 MKD 4,063

-28.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

$40.43 MKD 2,129

-5.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$100 MKD 5,270

-11.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$110 MKD 5,804

-29.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

$429 MKD 22.6K

134.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.2M

$310 MKD 16.3K

117.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

$645 MKD 34.0K

433.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

$459 MKD 24.1K

344.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

$2,801 MKD 147.5K

1.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

$1,829 MKD 96.3K

23.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$913 MKD 48.1K

-81.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.54

192.51%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali 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 452% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $34.00 in Skopje. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $213 in Skopje – so Skopje 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

Ubud, Bali vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 28% more than Skopje, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,667 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $312 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,112, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skopje costs $1,112 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.