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

Name: North Macedonia
Address: MK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,626 in United States versus $924 in North Macedonia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,830 in United States versus $1,377 in North Macedonia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,033 in United States versus $1,830 in North Macedonia.

Living in United States is roughly 184% more expensive than in North Macedonia on average.

United States (90% above) and North Macedonia (33% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $986 to $5,298, compared to $785–$1,182 in North Macedonia. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$7.75 MKD 410

155.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$28.21 MKD 1,490

179.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$5.71 MKD 301

113.49%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$1.75 MKD 92.7

219.43%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$1.74 MKD 91.9

59.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.21 MKD 64.1

80.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.25 MKD 119

160.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$2.78 MKD 147

188.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.29 MKD 68.3

-17.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$0.76 MKD 40.12

384.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.68 MKD 88.8

177.38%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$2.30 MKD 122

82.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$8.56 MKD 452

49.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$6.73 MKD 355

84.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$12.52 MKD 661

34.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$1.26 MKD 66.6

315.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.43 MKD 75.7

16.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.34 MKD 70.5

223.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$1.89 MKD 100.0

162.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$0.97 MKD 51.5

190.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.01 MKD 53.6

207.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.67 MKD 35.53

226.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.57 MKD 30.25

296.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$3.36 MKD 177

208.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$5.79 MKD 306

155.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.03 MKD 54.4

102.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.42 MKD 75.0

157.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.80 MKD 42.05

197.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$28.57 MKD 1,509

125.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.34 MKD 70.9

164.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$0.75 MKD 39.85

148.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$7.23 MKD 382

319.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.54 MKD 81.4

-35.06%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$35.4K MKD 1.9M

0.32%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$30.2K MKD 1.6M

-14.28%

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

$222 $222

$154 MKD 8,157

43.91%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$17.47 MKD 923

249.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$18.24 MKD 964

309.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$28.09 MKD 1,484

58.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$14.34 MKD 757

55.86%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$6.53 MKD 345

130.17%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$290 MKD 15.3K

392.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$4,485 MKD 237.0K

477.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$72.7 MKD 3,841

-26.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$40.44 MKD 2,137

7.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$93.4 MKD 4,935

-2.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$106 MKD 5,613

6.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$311 MKD 16.5K

424.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$247 MKD 13.1K

437.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$551 MKD 29.1K

372.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$370 MKD 19.5K

496.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$1,895 MKD 100.1K

75.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$1,352 MKD 71.4K

96.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$750 MKD 39.6K

473.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

4.72

31.57%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for North Macedonia: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,604 in United States, $286 in North Macedonia. Capital cities: $1,360 in Columbia, TN vs $443 in Skopje.

National salary averages: $4,526 in United States, $664 in North Macedonia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 461% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 168% more in United States.

Public transport is 17% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 582% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 $984 per month in North Macedonia and $3,142 in United States, there's a 219% gap. 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 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.

Rent in United States 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.

In North Macedonia, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in 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; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.