😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,405 in United Kingdom versus $924 in North Macedonia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,520 in United Kingdom versus $1,377 in North Macedonia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,635 in United Kingdom versus $1,830 in North Macedonia.
🌍Living in United Kingdom is roughly 160% more expensive than in North Macedonia on average.
📊United Kingdom (74% above) and North Macedonia (33% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,100 to $4,235, compared to $785–$1,182 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in United Kingdom.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.52£15.90
$7.75MKD 410
177.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.0£65.0
$28.21MKD 1,490
211.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.89£8.05
$5.71MKD 301
90.72%
Cappuccino
$4.92£3.64
$1.75MKD 92.7
181.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59£1.91
$1.74MKD 91.9
48.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84£1.36
$1.21MKD 64.1
52.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.91£5.11
$2.25MKD 119
207.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86£5.07
$2.78MKD 147
146.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67£1.23
$1.29MKD 68.3
29.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67£1.23
$0.76MKD 40.12
119.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20£1.63
$1.68MKD 88.8
30.95%
Eggs
$4.19£3.10
$2.30MKD 122
82.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.98£7.38
$8.56MKD 452
16.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.47£7.00
$6.73MKD 355
40.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.41£11.39
$12.52MKD 661
23.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02£2.23
$1.26MKD 66.6
139.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70£1.25
$1.43MKD 75.7
18.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.92£2.16
$1.34MKD 70.5
117.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.38£2.50
$1.89MKD 100.0
78.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84£1.36
$0.97MKD 51.5
89.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58£1.17
$1.01MKD 53.6
56.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26£0.93
$0.67MKD 35.53
88.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70£1.26
$0.57MKD 30.25
198.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$24.21£17.90
$3.36MKD 177
620.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.00£8.13
$5.79MKD 306
89.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98£2.21
$1.03MKD 54.4
189.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39£2.51
$1.42MKD 75.0
138.73%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.43£2.53
$0.80MKD 42.05
328.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$105£77.9
$28.57MKD 1,509
268.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.36£3.96
$1.34MKD 70.9
300.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37£1.75
$0.75MKD 39.85
216.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.55£20.36
$7.23MKD 382
281.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93£1.43
$1.54MKD 81.4
25.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K£29.3K
$35.4KMKD 1.9M
12.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7K£30.1K
$30.2KMKD 1.6M
34.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$321£238
$154MKD 8,157
108.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.67£13.80
$17.47MKD 923
6.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.93£32.47
$18.24MKD 964
140.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.56£34.41
$28.09MKD 1,484
65.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71£13.83
$14.34MKD 757
30.47%
Cinema Ticket
$13.53£10.00
$6.53MKD 345
107.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,739£1,285
$290MKD 15.3K
499.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.7K£16.7K
$4,485MKD 237.0K
405.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.9£67.2
$72.7MKD 3,841
25.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40£35.04
$40.44MKD 2,137
17.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105£77.8
$93.4MKD 4,935
12.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101£74.9
$106MKD 5,613
-4.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,382£1,022
$311MKD 16.5K
343.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,095£809
$247MKD 13.1K
342.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,216£1,638
$551MKD 29.1K
302.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,814£1,341
$370MKD 19.5K
390.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,730£4,235
$1,895MKD 100.1K
202.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,515£3,337
$1,352MKD 71.4K
234.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,329£2,461
$750MKD 39.6K
343.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
4.72
12.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for United Kingdom: September 5, 2026
Last update for North Macedonia: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,285 in United Kingdom, $286 in North Macedonia. Capital cities: $2,926 in London vs $443 in Skopje.
💰National salary averages: $3,292 in United Kingdom, $664 in North Macedonia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 349% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 200% more in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 274% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 396% higher in United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United Kingdom.
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
United Kingdom vs North Macedonia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between North Macedonia and United Kingdom?
At $984 per month in North Macedonia and $2,668 in United Kingdom, there's a 171% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in North Macedonia: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in United Kingdom is consistently higher than in North Macedonia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in North Macedonia or in United Kingdom?
In North Macedonia, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in United Kingdom it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to North Macedonia or to United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after: North Macedonia wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
United Kingdom vs other spots: cost of living compared