Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and North Macedonia

Name: North Macedonia
Address: MK

For one person, living is cheaper in North Macedonia: $940 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $21,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
45

Cost of Living Index in North Macedonia
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North Macedonia Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

$940

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in North Macedonia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in North Macedonia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,734 in the United States versus $940 in North Macedonia.

United States $2,734
North Macedonia $940

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,985 in the United States versus $1,393 in North Macedonia.

United States $3,985
North Macedonia $1,393

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,235 in the United States versus $1,847 in North Macedonia.

United States $5,235
North Macedonia $1,847

Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $730–$1,112 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in the United States.

Living in the United States is roughly 191% more expensive than in North Macedonia on average.

The United States (101% above) and North Macedonia (31% below) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$7.37 MKD 405

171.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$27.76 MKD 1,527

188.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$5.37 MKD 295

119.74%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$1.67 MKD 91.7

232.34%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$1.62 MKD 89.0

64.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.18 MKD 65.0

83.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$2.15 MKD 118

184.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$2.69 MKD 148

195.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.29 MKD 70.8

-19.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$0.73 MKD 40.03

391.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$1.56 MKD 85.6

189.74%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$2.21 MKD 121

93.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$8.29 MKD 456

59.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$6.77 MKD 372

86.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$12.23 MKD 673

43.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$1.16 MKD 64.0

356.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.43 MKD 78.7

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$1.33 MKD 73.2

233.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.77 MKD 97.4

169.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.94 MKD 51.8

215.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$0.97 MKD 53.3

224.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.67 MKD 36.88

228.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.51 MKD 28.10

360.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$3.26 MKD 179

236.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$5.48 MKD 301

174.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.99 MKD 54.7

108.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.34 MKD 73.9

182.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.70 MKD 38.48

177.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$25.31 MKD 1,392

134.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.26 MKD 69.1

184.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.68 MKD 37.38

176.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$6.68 MKD 367

346.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.47 MKD 80.8

-30.61%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$33.9K MKD 1.9M

-15.22%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.7K MKD 1.5M

-5.45%

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

$218 $218

$144 MKD 7,922

51.38%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$17.29 MKD 951

261.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$18.06 MKD 994

312.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$26.80 MKD 1,475

56.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

$14.58 MKD 802

56.45%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$6.51 MKD 358

125.81%

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

$1,489 $1,489

$289 MKD 15.9K

415.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$4,691 MKD 258.1K

438.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$66.4 MKD 3,654

-18.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

$38.71 MKD 2,130

10.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$88.1 MKD 4,848

6.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$103 MKD 5,675

10.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$306 MKD 16.8K

442.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$241 MKD 13.3K

459.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$533 MKD 29.3K

402.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$357 MKD 19.7K

507.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

$1,930 MKD 106.2K

70.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

$1,360 MKD 74.8K

82.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$732 MKD 40.3K

487.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

4.69

39.66%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for North Macedonia: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

North Macedonia

$241 25.6% 82.1% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

North Macedonia

$191 20.4% 53.9% $224

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

North Macedonia

$179 19.1% 49.5% $176

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

North Macedonia

$122 13% 62.7% $206

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

North Macedonia

$133 14.2% 2.7% $3.7

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

North Macedonia

$33 3.5% 59.1% $47

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

North Macedonia

$40 4.2% 44.1% $31

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,620 in the United States, $274 in North Macedonia. Capital cities: $2,768 in Washington, DC vs $394 in Skopje.

National salary averages: $4,549 in the United States, $639 in North Macedonia. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 491% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 178% more in the United States.

Public transport is 163% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 7.1 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

🕒 Local time

07:58 7:58 AM

12:58 12:58 PM

5 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

1,836,713

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

North Macedonian Denar MKD ден

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

100 MKD = 1.82 USD

100 MKD = 1.63 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MKD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇲🇰 North Macedonian Denar (ден)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 55.02 MKD (100 MKD = 1.82 USD). 1 EUR = 61.4 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

MKD to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

United States North Macedonia 8,740 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 States vs North Macedonia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $940 per month in North Macedonia and $2,734 in the United States, North Macedonia comes out about 66% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in North Macedonia: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 in the United States and $274 in North Macedonia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

In North Macedonia, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in the United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you’re after: North Macedonia wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.