😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,363 in United Kingdom versus $864 in North Macedonia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,474 in United Kingdom versus $1,298 in North Macedonia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,585 in United Kingdom versus $1,731 in North Macedonia.
😐Living in United Kingdom is roughly 173% more expensive than North Macedonia on average.
📊United Kingdom (76% above) and North Macedonia (36% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,678 to $3,892, compared to $744–$1,112 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in United Kingdom.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.41£15.17
$7.69MKD 405
165.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.0£64.7
$28.97MKD 1,527
200.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13£7.53
$5.60MKD 295
80.89%
Cappuccino
$4.70£3.49
$1.87MKD 98.8
151.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36£1.75
$1.81MKD 95.6
30.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76£1.30
$1.25MKD 65.7
40.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.66£4.95
$2.20MKD 116
202.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.43£4.78
$2.76MKD 146
132.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70£1.27
$1.34MKD 70.8
26.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63£1.21
$0.72MKD 37.94
126.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29£1.70
$1.62MKD 85.1
41.36%
Eggs
$4.03£2.99
$2.16MKD 114
86.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.77£7.26
$8.51MKD 449
14.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92£6.63
$7.46MKD 393
19.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.31£10.64
$12.43MKD 655
15.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05£2.26
$1.01MKD 53.2
201.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61£1.19
$1.41MKD 74.3
14.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84£2.11
$1.30MKD 68.6
118.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53£2.62
$2.01MKD 106
75.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61£1.19
$0.94MKD 49.46
71.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57£1.17
$0.98MKD 51.8
60.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17£0.87
$0.66MKD 34.72
77.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56£1.16
$0.53MKD 28.18
194.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.03£14.89
$3.13MKD 165
539.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.90£8.10
$6.41MKD 338
70.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90£2.16
$1.09MKD 57.3
166.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38£2.51
$1.43MKD 75.5
136.36%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.17£2.35
$0.77MKD 40.33
311.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.2£70.8
$28.04MKD 1,478
239.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45£4.05
$1.11MKD 58.6
390.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59£1.18
$0.61MKD 31.96
160.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.31£20.30
$7.55MKD 398
261.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99£1.48
$1.45MKD 76.6
37.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K£28.1K
$34.1KMKD 1.8M
10.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K£29.9K
$31.0KMKD 1.6M
29.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$323£240
$149MKD 7,871
115.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.22£12.80
$17.66MKD 931
-2.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.23£31.39
$18.32MKD 966
130.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.03£34.21
$32.08MKD 1,691
43.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.67£11.65
$14.43MKD 761
8.59%
Cinema Ticket
$13.48£10.02
$6.63MKD 350
103.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,713£1,274
$281MKD 14.8K
508.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.8K£15.5K
$4,123MKD 217.3K
404.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3£67.8
$72.1MKD 3,797
26.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.88£33.36
$41.81MKD 2,203
7.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102£75.9
$95.8MKD 5,048
6.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104£77.3
$113MKD 5,936
-7.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,417£1,053
$346MKD 18.2K
309.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,132£841
$255MKD 13.4K
343.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,308£1,715
$572MKD 30.1K
303.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,839£1,367
$404MKD 21.3K
355.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,727£4,257
$2,029MKD 106.9K
182.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,523£3,362
$1,387MKD 73.1K
225.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,333£2,477
$768MKD 40.5K
334.00%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for North Macedonia: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,265 in United Kingdom, $284 in North Macedonia. Capital cities: $3,019 in London vs $429 in Skopje.
💰National salary averages: $3,219 in United Kingdom, $671 in North Macedonia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 345% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 223% more in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 343% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 380% higher in United Kingdom, giving United Kingdom stronger purchasing power.
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 $928 per month in North Macedonia and $2,785 in United Kingdom, there's a 200% 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?
North Macedonia is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 United Kingdom?
In North Macedonia, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In United Kingdom, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to North Macedonia or 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