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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,108 per month in Windhoek vs $1,112 in Skopje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,797 per month in Windhoek vs $1,621 in Skopje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,485 per month in Windhoek vs $2,130 in Skopje, rent included.

Windhoek and Skopje have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.55 NAD 172
$7.57 MKD 399
39.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.77 NAD 630
$34.02 MKD 1,793
13.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.35 NAD 87.0
$6.65 MKD 350
-19.55%
Cappuccino
$1.94 NAD 31.53
$2.19 MKD 115
-11.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 NAD 15.57
$1.94 MKD 102
-50.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 NAD 15.37
$1.28 MKD 67.5
-25.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.86 NAD 30.25
$2.70 MKD 142
-31.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 NAD 37.01
$3.47 MKD 183
-34.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 NAD 23.51
$1.34 MKD 70.7
8.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 NAD 13.94
$0.82 MKD 43.38
4.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 NAD 27.04
$1.75 MKD 92.4
-5.14%
Eggs
$2.80 NAD 45.47
$2.19 MKD 115
27.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.21 NAD 101
$9.22 MKD 486
-32.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 NAD 86.6
$7.99 MKD 421
-33.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.79 NAD 110
$13.63 MKD 719
-50.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 NAD 30.16
$1.01 MKD 53.4
84.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 NAD 30.84
$1.41 MKD 74.5
34.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 NAD 27.87
$1.32 MKD 69.6
30.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.77 NAD 28.70
$2.17 MKD 115
-18.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 NAD 33.17
$0.88 MKD 46.57
131.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 NAD 29.47
$0.92 MKD 48.53
96.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 NAD 30.54
$0.71 MKD 37.43
164.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 NAD 18.59
$0.58 MKD 30.60
96.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 NAD 45.70
$3.15 MKD 166
-10.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.21 NAD 117
$7.41 MKD 391
-2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 NAD 21.80
$1.06 MKD 55.9
26.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 NAD 30.03
$1.51 MKD 79.8
22.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 NAD 11.34
$0.77 MKD 40.44
-9.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.64 NAD 661
$27.67 MKD 1,458
46.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 NAD 11.12
$0.98 MKD 51.5
-30.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 NAD 11.89
$0.49 MKD 25.61
48.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.51 NAD 187
$7.60 MKD 400
51.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 NAD 19.93
$1.47 MKD 77.3
-16.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K NAD 344.2K
$34.0K MKD 1.8M
-37.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K NAD 389.7K
$29.6K MKD 1.6M
-18.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 NAD 1,893
$160 MKD 8,446
-27.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.47 NAD 284
$18.34 MKD 966
-4.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.0 NAD 828
$19.13 MKD 1,008
166.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.28 NAD 606
$38.37 MKD 2,022
-2.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.37 NAD 217
$17.56 MKD 925
-23.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.42 NAD 88.1
$6.72 MKD 354
-19.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$218 NAD 3,539
$312 MKD 16.5K
-30.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,110 NAD 83.0K
$4,509 MKD 237.6K
13.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 NAD 840
$77.2 MKD 4,067
-33.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.89 NAD 437
$40.43 MKD 2,131
-33.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 NAD 1,451
$100 MKD 5,275
-10.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2 NAD 1,353
$110 MKD 5,810
-24.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 NAD 7,970
$429 MKD 22.6K
14.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 NAD 6,326
$310 MKD 16.3K
25.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 NAD 20.4K
$645 MKD 34.0K
94.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$950 NAD 15.4K
$459 MKD 24.2K
107.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,660 NAD 27.0K
$2,801 MKD 147.6K
-40.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$616 NAD 10.0K
$1,829 MKD 96.4K
-66.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 NAD 16.8K
$913 MKD 48.1K
13.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.69
4.54
157.49%

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

Last update for Windhoek: May 31, 2026

Last update for Skopje: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Windhoek 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 14% higher in Windhoek. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Windhoek versus $34.00 in Skopje. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Windhoek vs $213 in Skopje – so Windhoek wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Windhoek vs Skopje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,663 per month in Windhoek and $1,667 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 Windhoek, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Windhoek or Skopje?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Skopje, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do childcare costs compare in Windhoek and Skopje?
Kindergarten costs $218 per month in Windhoek and $312 in Skopje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Windhoek or Skopje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Windhoek, where all-in costs run around $1,108, than in Skopje at $1,112. In Windhoek it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skopje 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. Windhoek costs $1,108 versus $1,112 in Skopje. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Windhoek or Skopje?
If budget matters most, go with Windhoek. 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.

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