😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,363 in United Kingdom versus $866 in North Macedonia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,471 in United Kingdom versus $1,294 in North Macedonia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,579 in United Kingdom versus $1,721 in North Macedonia.
🌍Living in United Kingdom is roughly 173% more expensive than in North Macedonia on average.
📊United Kingdom (77% above) and North Macedonia (35% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,670 to $3,916, compared to $744–$1,087 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in United Kingdom.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.23£15.05
$7.41MKD 398
173.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.3£65.7
$28.89MKD 1,550
205.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.35£7.70
$5.79MKD 311
78.76%
Cappuccino
$4.77£3.55
$1.87MKD 100
155.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44£1.82
$1.79MKD 96.1
36.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73£1.29
$1.24MKD 66.7
39.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.85£5.10
$2.23MKD 120
207.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.52£4.85
$2.79MKD 150
133.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66£1.23
$1.35MKD 72.5
22.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71£1.27
$0.72MKD 38.68
137.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21£1.64
$1.62MKD 87.0
36.42%
Eggs
$4.09£3.04
$2.17MKD 117
88.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.52£7.08
$8.88MKD 476
7.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.02£6.71
$7.36MKD 395
22.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.18£10.54
$12.46MKD 668
13.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.96£2.20
$1.04MKD 55.9
184.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68£1.25
$1.47MKD 79.0
14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84£2.11
$1.34MKD 72.1
111.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.41£2.54
$1.99MKD 107
71.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69£1.26
$0.94MKD 50.6
79.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58£1.17
$1.02MKD 54.7
54.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12£0.84
$0.68MKD 36.48
64.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53£1.14
$0.56MKD 30.04
173.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.16£15.00
$3.24MKD 174
522.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47£7.79
$5.42MKD 291
93.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87£2.14
$1.03MKD 55.4
178.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30£2.45
$1.46MKD 78.4
126.03%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.33£2.48
$0.79MKD 42.22
321.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.3£71.6
$27.86MKD 1,495
245.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.53£4.11
$1.16MKD 62.0
376.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60£1.19
$0.60MKD 32.26
166.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.51£20.47
$7.59MKD 407
262.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90£1.41
$1.53MKD 82.2
24.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K£28.3K
$34.0KMKD 1.8M
11.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K£30.5K
$30.1KMKD 1.6M
35.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$326£243
$147MKD 7,888
121.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.18£12.78
$17.68MKD 948
-2.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.96£31.96
$18.94MKD 1,016
126.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.94£34.17
$31.38MKD 1,683
46.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.87£11.81
$14.06MKD 754
12.87%
Cinema Ticket
$13.80£10.26
$6.65MKD 357
107.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,723£1,281
$287MKD 15.4K
501.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.9K£15.5K
$4,216MKD 226.1K
395.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.3£67.2
$69.4MKD 3,721
30.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39£33.02
$42.34MKD 2,271
4.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103£76.7
$94.1MKD 5,047
9.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103£76.3
$109MKD 5,862
-6.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,419£1,055
$351MKD 18.8K
304.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,143£850
$263MKD 14.1K
334.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,298£1,709
$575MKD 30.8K
299.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,873£1,393
$395MKD 21.2K
373.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,728£4,260
$1,970MKD 105.7K
190.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,339£3,228
$1,320MKD 70.8K
228.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,264£2,428
$746MKD 40.0K
337.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
4.76
20.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for United Kingdom: July 13, 2026
Last update for North Macedonia: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,266 in United Kingdom, $283 in North Macedonia. Capital cities: $2,937 in London vs $425 in Skopje.
💰National salary averages: $3,192 in United Kingdom, $650 in North Macedonia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 347% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 223% more in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 318% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 391% 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 $916 per month in North Macedonia and $2,793 in United Kingdom, there's a 205% 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