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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $785 per month in Veles vs $1,182 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,155 per month in Veles vs $1,723 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,525 per month in Veles vs $2,263 in Skopje, rent included.

Veles is about 34% cheaper than Skopje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Veles and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Veles 43% lower, Skopje 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 MKD 462

$9.68 MKD 511

-9.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 MKD 985

$34.37 MKD 1,816

-45.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.75 MKD 304

$6.65 MKD 351

-13.53%

Cappuccino

$1.58 MKD 83.6

$2.23 MKD 118

-29.15%

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

$1.31 MKD 69.1

$1.86 MKD 98.5

-29.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 MKD 44.63

$1.28 MKD 67.6

-34.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 MKD 81.9

$2.81 MKD 148

-44.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 MKD 175

$3.25 MKD 172

1.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 MKD 58.1

$1.33 MKD 70.4

-17.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MKD 26.71

$0.78 MKD 41.46

-34.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 MKD 80.7

$1.94 MKD 102

-21.13%

Eggs

$2.56 MKD 135

$2.47 MKD 131

3.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.96 MKD 156

$8.73 MKD 461

-66.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 MKD 213

$7.49 MKD 396

-46.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.26 MKD 806

$15.07 MKD 796

1.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 MKD 80.8

$1.53 MKD 80.7

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 75.9

$1.50 MKD 79.0

-4.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 75.5

$1.38 MKD 73.0

3.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 MKD 107

$2.08 MKD 110

-2.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 MKD 45.72

$0.92 MKD 48.78

-5.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 MKD 46.00

$0.84 MKD 44.24

3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 MKD 32.61

$0.62 MKD 32.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.53

$0.57 MKD 30.31

1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 MKD 184

$3.63 MKD 192

-3.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.42 MKD 339

$7.37 MKD 389

-12.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 MKD 58.2

$1.09 MKD 57.5

0.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 MKD 82.0

$1.56 MKD 82.3

-0.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 MKD 41.62

$0.80 MKD 42.10

-1.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.38 MKD 1,288

$28.14 MKD 1,487

-13.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MKD 60.3

$1.11 MKD 58.4

2.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 MKD 36.42

$0.68 MKD 35.75

1.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 MKD 402

$7.98 MKD 422

-4.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.4

$1.54 MKD 81.2

-7.14%

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

$27.4K MKD 1.4M

$37.0K MKD 2.0M

-25.96%

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

$25.2K MKD 1.3M

$28.4K MKD 1.5M

-11.36%

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

$116 MKD 6,103

$168 MKD 8,854

-31.07%

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

$17.79 MKD 940

$19.55 MKD 1,033

-9.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.37 MKD 654

$19.73 MKD 1,042

-37.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.11 MKD 1,379

$38.05 MKD 2,010

-31.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.35 MKD 969

$17.83 MKD 942

2.92%

Cinema Ticket

$3.32 MKD 175

$7.13 MKD 377

-53.44%

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

$229 MKD 12.1K

$389 MKD 20.5K

-41.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,616 MKD 296.7K

$5,501 MKD 290.6K

2.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.52 MKD 1,190

$91.6 MKD 4,837

-75.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.78 MKD 992

$39.71 MKD 2,098

-52.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 MKD 3,911

$107 MKD 5,629

-30.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,876

$114 MKD 6,023

-2.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$223 MKD 11.8K

$443 MKD 23.4K

-49.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 MKD 9,390

$339 MKD 17.9K

-47.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 MKD 15.3K

$750 MKD 39.6K

-61.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 MKD 12.4K

$535 MKD 28.3K

-56.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,229 MKD 64.9K

$2,778 MKD 146.8K

-55.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$982 MKD 51.9K

$1,892 MKD 99.9K

-48.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 MKD 31.8K

$906 MKD 47.9K

-33.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

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

Last update for Veles: September 6, 2026

Last update for Skopje: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $223 in Veles versus $443 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: $174 vs $217 – 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 51% more than Veles, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,178 per month in Veles and $1,774 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 $229 per month in Veles and $389 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $785, than in Skopje at $1,182. 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 $785 versus $1,182 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.