Cost of Living Comparison Between Veles and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Veles and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Veles vs $1,087 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Veles vs $1,634 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,507 per month in Veles vs $2,180 in Skopje, rent included.

Veles is about 30% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Veles and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Veles 43% lower, Skopje 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.77 MKD 309

$7.58 MKD 407

-23.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.54 MKD 995

$33.45 MKD 1,794

-44.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.05 MKD 271

$6.70 MKD 359

-24.63%

Cappuccino

$1.53 MKD 82.2

$2.27 MKD 122

-32.60%

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

$1.33 MKD 71.2

$2.03 MKD 109

-34.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 MKD 45.34

$1.29 MKD 69.2

-34.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 MKD 81.4

$2.66 MKD 143

-42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MKD 148

$3.35 MKD 180

-17.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 MKD 58.5

$1.29 MKD 69.4

-15.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 MKD 29.48

$0.76 MKD 40.80

-27.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 MKD 82.7

$1.67 MKD 89.6

-7.78%

Eggs

$2.05 MKD 110

$2.21 MKD 119

-7.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 MKD 163

$9.13 MKD 490

-66.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.07 MKD 218

$7.78 MKD 417

-47.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.68 MKD 734

$13.71 MKD 735

-0.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 MKD 55.7

$1.06 MKD 57.1

-1.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MKD 73.5

$1.43 MKD 76.8

-4.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 MKD 67.5

$1.35 MKD 72.5

-6.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 MKD 84.8

$2.17 MKD 116

-27.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 52.6

$0.89 MKD 47.75

10.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MKD 71.6

$0.90 MKD 48.45

47.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 30.99

$0.69 MKD 36.92

-15.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MKD 28.94

$0.55 MKD 29.70

-1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 MKD 158

$3.18 MKD 170

-7.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.17 MKD 331

$7.26 MKD 389

-15.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 MKD 53.7

$1.07 MKD 57.2

-6.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 MKD 98.0

$1.52 MKD 81.5

20.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MKD 36.66

$0.76 MKD 40.94

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.96 MKD 2,680

$28.58 MKD 1,533

74.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MKD 62.4

$0.96 MKD 51.6

20.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.40

$0.48 MKD 26.01

2.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.43 MKD 345

$7.41 MKD 397

-13.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 MKD 77.7

$1.49 MKD 79.7

-2.68%

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

$27.0K MKD 1.4M

$33.7K MKD 1.8M

-19.84%

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

$24.6K MKD 1.3M

$29.3K MKD 1.6M

-16.02%

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

$115 MKD 6,154

$160 MKD 8,574

-28.22%

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

$17.17 MKD 921

$18.05 MKD 968

-4.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.10 MKD 649

$19.13 MKD 1,026

-36.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.15 MKD 1,403

$38.66 MKD 2,074

-32.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.92 MKD 103

$17.36 MKD 931

-88.94%

Cinema Ticket

$3.35 MKD 180

$6.62 MKD 355

-49.40%

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

$223 MKD 12.0K

$320 MKD 17.2K

-30.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,210 MKD 64.9K

$4,642 MKD 249.0K

-73.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.39 MKD 1,201

$77.5 MKD 4,157

-71.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.06 MKD 1,022

$40.16 MKD 2,154

-52.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 MKD 4,030

$100 MKD 5,364

-24.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 6,048

$110 MKD 5,913

2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 MKD 12.1K

$425 MKD 22.8K

-46.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 MKD 9,319

$310 MKD 16.6K

-43.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 MKD 15.6K

$645 MKD 34.6K

-54.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MKD 13.0K

$463 MKD 24.8K

-47.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,201 MKD 64.4K

$2,731 MKD 146.5K

-56.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 MKD 51.3K

$1,740 MKD 93.3K

-45.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 MKD 32.4K

$886 MKD 47.5K

-31.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

4.54

56.39%

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

Last update for Veles: July 12, 2026

Last update for Skopje: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Veles versus $425 in Skopje. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 47% higher in Skopje, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Veles versus $33.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $210 – making Veles the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Veles vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skopje costs about 42% more than Veles, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,147 per month in Veles and $1,631 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Veles, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $223 per month in Veles and $320 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Skopje, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $765 in Veles and $1,087 in Skopje, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Veles costs $765 versus $1,087 in Skopje. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Veles. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skopje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.