🙂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 – Windhoek17% lower, Skopje17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.55NAD 172
$7.57MKD 399
39.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.77NAD 630
$34.02MKD 1,793
13.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.35NAD 87.0
$6.65MKD 350
-19.55%
Cappuccino
$1.94NAD 31.53
$2.19MKD 115
-11.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96NAD 15.57
$1.94MKD 102
-50.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95NAD 15.37
$1.28MKD 67.5
-25.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.86NAD 30.25
$2.70MKD 142
-31.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28NAD 37.01
$3.47MKD 183
-34.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45NAD 23.51
$1.34MKD 70.7
8.21%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86NAD 13.94
$0.82MKD 43.38
4.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66NAD 27.04
$1.75MKD 92.4
-5.14%
Eggs
$2.80NAD 45.47
$2.19MKD 115
27.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.21NAD 101
$9.22MKD 486
-32.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.33NAD 86.6
$7.99MKD 421
-33.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.79NAD 110
$13.63MKD 719
-50.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86NAD 30.16
$1.01MKD 53.4
84.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90NAD 30.84
$1.41MKD 74.5
34.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72NAD 27.87
$1.32MKD 69.6
30.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.77NAD 28.70
$2.17MKD 115
-18.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04NAD 33.17
$0.88MKD 46.57
131.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81NAD 29.47
$0.92MKD 48.53
96.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.88NAD 30.54
$0.71MKD 37.43
164.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14NAD 18.59
$0.58MKD 30.60
96.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81NAD 45.70
$3.15MKD 166
-10.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.21NAD 117
$7.41MKD 391
-2.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34NAD 21.80
$1.06MKD 55.9
26.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85NAD 30.03
$1.51MKD 79.8
22.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70NAD 11.34
$0.77MKD 40.44
-9.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.64NAD 661
$27.67MKD 1,458
46.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68NAD 11.12
$0.98MKD 51.5
-30.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73NAD 11.89
$0.49MKD 25.61
48.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.51NAD 187
$7.60MKD 400
51.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23NAD 19.93
$1.47MKD 77.3
-16.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KNAD 344.2K
$34.0KMKD 1.8M
-37.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KNAD 389.7K
$29.6KMKD 1.6M
-18.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116NAD 1,893
$160MKD 8,446
-27.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.47NAD 284
$18.34MKD 966
-4.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.0NAD 828
$19.13MKD 1,008
166.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.28NAD 606
$38.37MKD 2,022
-2.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.37NAD 217
$17.56MKD 925
-23.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.42NAD 88.1
$6.72MKD 354
-19.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$218NAD 3,539
$312MKD 16.5K
-30.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,110NAD 83.0K
$4,509MKD 237.6K
13.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7NAD 840
$77.2MKD 4,067
-33.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.89NAD 437
$40.43MKD 2,131
-33.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.3NAD 1,451
$100MKD 5,275
-10.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2NAD 1,353
$110MKD 5,810
-24.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490NAD 7,970
$429MKD 22.6K
14.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389NAD 6,326
$310MKD 16.3K
25.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,257NAD 20.4K
$645MKD 34.0K
94.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$950NAD 15.4K
$459MKD 24.2K
107.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,660NAD 27.0K
$2,801MKD 147.6K
-40.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$616NAD 10.0K
$1,829MKD 96.4K
-66.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Windhoek
Skopje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037NAD 16.8K
$913MKD 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.