Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and North Macedonia Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and North Macedonia

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$7.75 MKD 410
177.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.0 £65.0
$28.21 MKD 1,490
211.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.89 £8.05
$5.71 MKD 301
90.72%
Cappuccino
$4.92 £3.64
$1.75 MKD 92.7
181.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 £1.91
$1.74 MKD 91.9
48.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 £1.36
$1.21 MKD 64.1
52.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.91 £5.11
$2.25 MKD 119
207.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86 £5.07
$2.78 MKD 147
146.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 £1.23
$1.29 MKD 68.3
29.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 £1.23
$0.76 MKD 40.12
119.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 £1.63
$1.68 MKD 88.8
30.95%
Eggs
$4.19 £3.10
$2.30 MKD 122
82.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 £7.38
$8.56 MKD 452
16.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.47 £7.00
$6.73 MKD 355
40.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.41 £11.39
$12.52 MKD 661
23.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 £2.23
$1.26 MKD 66.6
139.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 £1.25
$1.43 MKD 75.7
18.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 £2.16
$1.34 MKD 70.5
117.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.38 £2.50
$1.89 MKD 100.0
78.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 £1.36
$0.97 MKD 51.5
89.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 £1.17
$1.01 MKD 53.6
56.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 £0.93
$0.67 MKD 35.53
88.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 £1.26
$0.57 MKD 30.25
198.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.21 £17.90
$3.36 MKD 177
620.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.00 £8.13
$5.79 MKD 306
89.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 £2.21
$1.03 MKD 54.4
189.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 £2.51
$1.42 MKD 75.0
138.73%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.43 £2.53
$0.80 MKD 42.05
328.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$105 £77.9
$28.57 MKD 1,509
268.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 £3.96
$1.34 MKD 70.9
300.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 £1.75
$0.75 MKD 39.85
216.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.55 £20.36
$7.23 MKD 382
281.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 £1.43
$1.54 MKD 81.4
25.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K £29.3K
$35.4K MKD 1.9M
12.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7K £30.1K
$30.2K MKD 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
$154 MKD 8,157
108.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.67 £13.80
$17.47 MKD 923
6.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.93 £32.47
$18.24 MKD 964
140.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.56 £34.41
$28.09 MKD 1,484
65.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71 £13.83
$14.34 MKD 757
30.47%
Cinema Ticket
$13.53 £10.00
$6.53 MKD 345
107.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,739 £1,285
$290 MKD 15.3K
499.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K £16.7K
$4,485 MKD 237.0K
405.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.9 £67.2
$72.7 MKD 3,841
25.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40 £35.04
$40.44 MKD 2,137
17.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 £77.8
$93.4 MKD 4,935
12.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 £74.9
$106 MKD 5,613
-4.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,382 £1,022
$311 MKD 16.5K
343.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 £809
$247 MKD 13.1K
342.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,216 £1,638
$551 MKD 29.1K
302.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,814 £1,341
$370 MKD 19.5K
390.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,730 £4,235
$1,895 MKD 100.1K
202.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,515 £3,337
$1,352 MKD 71.4K
234.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
North Macedonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,329 £2,461
$750 MKD 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.

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