😐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 – Windhoek10% lower, Skopje15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60NAD 188
$9.46MKD 499
22.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8NAD 1,014
$33.97MKD 1,794
84.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.38NAD 103
$6.73MKD 355
-5.20%
Cappuccino
$2.45NAD 39.62
$2.13MKD 113
15.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89NAD 14.34
$1.88MKD 99.2
-52.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93NAD 15.08
$1.30MKD 68.7
-28.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96NAD 31.64
$2.77MKD 146
-29.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28NAD 36.93
$3.15MKD 166
-27.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64NAD 26.59
$1.29MKD 68.2
27.13%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90NAD 14.59
$0.82MKD 43.17
9.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10NAD 33.91
$1.90MKD 100
10.53%
Eggs
$3.12NAD 50.5
$2.47MKD 130
26.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.93NAD 161
$8.81MKD 465
12.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.64NAD 107
$7.56MKD 399
-12.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.54NAD 122
$15.11MKD 798
-50.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27NAD 36.75
$1.48MKD 78.1
53.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00NAD 32.30
$1.50MKD 79.1
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89NAD 30.49
$1.38MKD 72.8
36.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25NAD 36.37
$2.06MKD 109
9.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21NAD 35.80
$0.88MKD 46.34
151.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82NAD 29.35
$0.84MKD 44.27
116.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.09NAD 33.78
$0.65MKD 34.20
221.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15NAD 18.55
$0.58MKD 30.83
98.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34NAD 54.0
$3.66MKD 194
-8.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.93NAD 112
$7.47MKD 395
-7.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46NAD 23.59
$1.04MKD 55.2
40.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45NAD 23.50
$1.58MKD 83.5
-8.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78NAD 12.63
$0.78MKD 41.31
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.94NAD 807
$27.82MKD 1,469
79.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84NAD 13.63
$1.12MKD 59.1
-25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.95NAD 15.42
$0.67MKD 35.51
41.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.11NAD 260
$7.89MKD 417
104.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42NAD 22.92
$1.62MKD 85.4
-12.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KNAD 395.4K
$37.5KMKD 2.0M
-34.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3KNAD 489.7K
$28.0KMKD 1.5M
8.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142NAD 2,294
$166MKD 8,742
-14.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.74NAD 465
$19.14MKD 1,011
50.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.03NAD 793
$19.69MKD 1,040
149.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.49NAD 606
$38.57MKD 2,037
-2.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.77NAD 174
$18.23MKD 963
-40.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.50NAD 88.9
$7.31MKD 386
-24.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$213NAD 3,445
$390MKD 20.6K
-45.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,564NAD 90.0K
$5,550MKD 293.1K
0.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1NAD 924
$89.6MKD 4,730
-36.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.02NAD 582
$40.15MKD 2,120
-10.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.6NAD 1,481
$107MKD 5,675
-14.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101NAD 1,629
$116MKD 6,147
-13.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$535NAD 8,657
$445MKD 23.5K
20.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$388NAD 6,275
$336MKD 17.8K
15.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,182NAD 19.1K
$764MKD 40.4K
54.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$998NAD 16.1K
$530MKD 28.0K
88.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,637NAD 26.5K
$2,710MKD 143.1K
-39.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$615NAD 9,943
$1,869MKD 98.7K
-67.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,029NAD 16.6K
$896MKD 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.