Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Skopje Cost of Living Comparison Between Windhoek and Skopje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,238 per month in Windhoek vs $1,168 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,074 per month in Windhoek vs $1,738 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,910 per month in Windhoek vs $2,308 in Skopje, rent included.

Windhoek costs about 6% more than Skopje, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Windhoek and Skopje are more affordable than the global median – Windhoek 10% lower, Skopje 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 NAD 188
$9.46 MKD 499
22.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8 NAD 1,014
$33.97 MKD 1,794
84.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.38 NAD 103
$6.73 MKD 355
-5.20%
Cappuccino
$2.45 NAD 39.62
$2.13 MKD 113
15.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 NAD 14.34
$1.88 MKD 99.2
-52.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 NAD 15.08
$1.30 MKD 68.7
-28.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 NAD 31.64
$2.77 MKD 146
-29.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 NAD 36.93
$3.15 MKD 166
-27.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 NAD 26.59
$1.29 MKD 68.2
27.13%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 NAD 14.59
$0.82 MKD 43.17
9.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 NAD 33.91
$1.90 MKD 100
10.53%
Eggs
$3.12 NAD 50.5
$2.47 MKD 130
26.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.93 NAD 161
$8.81 MKD 465
12.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.64 NAD 107
$7.56 MKD 399
-12.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.54 NAD 122
$15.11 MKD 798
-50.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 NAD 36.75
$1.48 MKD 78.1
53.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 NAD 32.30
$1.50 MKD 79.1
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 NAD 30.49
$1.38 MKD 72.8
36.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 NAD 36.37
$2.06 MKD 109
9.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 NAD 35.80
$0.88 MKD 46.34
151.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 NAD 29.35
$0.84 MKD 44.27
116.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 NAD 33.78
$0.65 MKD 34.20
221.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 NAD 18.55
$0.58 MKD 30.83
98.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 NAD 54.0
$3.66 MKD 194
-8.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.93 NAD 112
$7.47 MKD 395
-7.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 NAD 23.59
$1.04 MKD 55.2
40.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 NAD 23.50
$1.58 MKD 83.5
-8.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 NAD 12.63
$0.78 MKD 41.31
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.94 NAD 807
$27.82 MKD 1,469
79.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 NAD 13.63
$1.12 MKD 59.1
-25.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 NAD 15.42
$0.67 MKD 35.51
41.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.11 NAD 260
$7.89 MKD 417
104.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 NAD 22.92
$1.62 MKD 85.4
-12.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K NAD 395.4K
$37.5K MKD 2.0M
-34.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K NAD 489.7K
$28.0K MKD 1.5M
8.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 NAD 2,294
$166 MKD 8,742
-14.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.74 NAD 465
$19.14 MKD 1,011
50.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.03 NAD 793
$19.69 MKD 1,040
149.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.49 NAD 606
$38.57 MKD 2,037
-2.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.77 NAD 174
$18.23 MKD 963
-40.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.50 NAD 88.9
$7.31 MKD 386
-24.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$213 NAD 3,445
$390 MKD 20.6K
-45.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,564 NAD 90.0K
$5,550 MKD 293.1K
0.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 NAD 924
$89.6 MKD 4,730
-36.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.02 NAD 582
$40.15 MKD 2,120
-10.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 NAD 1,481
$107 MKD 5,675
-14.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 NAD 1,629
$116 MKD 6,147
-13.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 NAD 8,657
$445 MKD 23.5K
20.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$388 NAD 6,275
$336 MKD 17.8K
15.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,182 NAD 19.1K
$764 MKD 40.4K
54.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$998 NAD 16.1K
$530 MKD 28.0K
88.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,637 NAD 26.5K
$2,710 MKD 143.1K
-39.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$615 NAD 9,943
$1,869 MKD 98.7K
-67.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,029 NAD 16.6K
$896 MKD 47.3K
14.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.25
168.71%

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

Last update for Windhoek: August 30, 2026

Last update for Skopje: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $535 in Windhoek versus $445 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 15% higher in Windhoek, 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 $63.0 in Windhoek versus $34.00 in Skopje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $218 – making Skopje 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
Windhoek vs Skopje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Windhoek or Skopje?
Windhoek costs about 6% more than Skopje, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Windhoek and in Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,857 per month in Windhoek and $1,752 in Skopje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Windhoek or Skopje?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Skopje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Windhoek and in Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $213 per month in Windhoek and $390 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Windhoek or in Skopje?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Windhoek, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Windhoek or in Skopje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Skopje, where all-in costs run around $1,168, than in Windhoek at $1,238. In Skopje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Windhoek it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Windhoek or Skopje?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skopje costs $1,168 versus $1,238 in Windhoek. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Windhoek or to Skopje?
If budget matters most, go with Skopje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Windhoek makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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