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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $770 per month in Veles vs $1,112 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,144 per month in Veles vs $1,621 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,517 per month in Veles vs $2,130 in Skopje, rent included.

Veles is about 31% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Veles and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Veles 43% lower, Skopje 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.80 MKD 306

$7.57 MKD 399

-23.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.89 MKD 996

$34.02 MKD 1,793

-44.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.12 MKD 270

$6.65 MKD 350

-23.01%

Cappuccino

$1.59 MKD 83.6

$2.19 MKD 115

-27.40%

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

$1.32 MKD 69.3

$1.94 MKD 102

-31.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 MKD 44.50

$1.28 MKD 67.5

-34.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 MKD 77.7

$2.70 MKD 142

-45.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 MKD 139

$3.47 MKD 183

-23.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 MKD 55.2

$1.34 MKD 70.7

-21.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 MKD 28.91

$0.82 MKD 43.38

-32.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MKD 78.3

$1.75 MKD 92.4

-14.86%

Eggs

$2.09 MKD 110

$2.19 MKD 115

-4.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.10 MKD 163

$9.22 MKD 486

-66.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 MKD 214

$7.99 MKD 421

-49.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 MKD 707

$13.63 MKD 719

-1.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 56.1

$1.01 MKD 53.4

5.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 73.7

$1.41 MKD 74.5

-0.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 MKD 65.9

$1.32 MKD 69.6

-5.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 MKD 83.8

$2.17 MKD 115

-26.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 52.0

$0.88 MKD 46.57

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 73.8

$0.92 MKD 48.53

52.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 MKD 30.27

$0.71 MKD 37.43

-19.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MKD 27.78

$0.58 MKD 30.60

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 MKD 160

$3.15 MKD 166

-3.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.48 MKD 342

$7.41 MKD 391

-12.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MKD 53.6

$1.06 MKD 55.9

-3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 MKD 98.1

$1.51 MKD 79.8

23.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 MKD 35.52

$0.77 MKD 40.44

-12.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.1 MKD 2,638

$27.67 MKD 1,458

80.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 MKD 58.0

$0.98 MKD 51.5

12.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.71

$0.49 MKD 25.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 MKD 343

$7.60 MKD 400

-14.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.6

$1.47 MKD 77.3

-2.72%

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

$27.2K MKD 1.4M

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

-19.99%

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

$24.9K MKD 1.3M

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

-15.98%

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

$116 MKD 6,111

$160 MKD 8,446

-27.65%

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

$17.27 MKD 910

$18.34 MKD 966

-5.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.28 MKD 647

$19.13 MKD 1,008

-35.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.78 MKD 1,359

$38.37 MKD 2,022

-32.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.86 MKD 98.2

$17.56 MKD 925

-89.41%

Cinema Ticket

$3.36 MKD 177

$6.72 MKD 354

-50.00%

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

$218 MKD 11.5K

$312 MKD 16.5K

-30.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,216 MKD 64.1K

$4,509 MKD 237.6K

-73.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.63 MKD 1,193

$77.2 MKD 4,067

-70.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.03 MKD 1,003

$40.43 MKD 2,131

-52.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 MKD 3,968

$100 MKD 5,275

-24.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 5,981

$110 MKD 5,810

2.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$220 MKD 11.6K

$429 MKD 22.6K

-48.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 MKD 9,198

$310 MKD 16.3K

-43.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$293 MKD 15.4K

$645 MKD 34.0K

-54.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 MKD 12.5K

$459 MKD 24.2K

-48.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,239 MKD 65.3K

$2,801 MKD 147.6K

-55.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$952 MKD 50.2K

$1,829 MKD 96.4K

-47.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 MKD 31.9K

$913 MKD 48.1K

-33.65%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $220 in Veles versus $429 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 51% 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 $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $213 – 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 44% 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 $1,156 per month in Veles and $1,667 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 $218 per month in Veles and $312 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Skopje, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Veles, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Skopje at $1,112. In Veles it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Veles costs $770 versus $1,112 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.