Cost of Living in North Macedonia - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: North Macedonia
Address: MK

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $595 (excluding rent), and $1,012 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,408 (excluding rent), and $1,955 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 MKD 396

$4.36 MKD 228

$11.37 MKD 595

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.19 MKD 1,474

$18.55 MKD 970

$46.38 MKD 2,425

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 MKD 288

$4.58 MKD 240

$7.33 MKD 383

Cappuccino

$1.93 MKD 101

$1.16 MKD 60.5

$2.89 MKD 151

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

$1.73 MKD 90.4

$1.28 MKD 66.9

$2.57 MKD 134

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 MKD 62.0

$0.92 MKD 48.16

$1.84 MKD 96.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 MKD 121

$1.35 MKD 70.4

$3.87 MKD 202

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 MKD 143

$1.94 MKD 102

$4.56 MKD 239

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MKD 71.0

$1.15 MKD 60.3

$1.63 MKD 85.4

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 MKD 40.31

$0.58 MKD 30.51

$1.21 MKD 63.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 MKD 84.6

$0.92 MKD 48.17

$2.21 MKD 115

Eggs

$2.14 MKD 112

$1.54 MKD 80.3

$2.85 MKD 149

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.88 MKD 464

$6.66 MKD 348

$12.38 MKD 647

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.47 MKD 390

$4.81 MKD 252

$9.62 MKD 503

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 MKD 641

$7.42 MKD 388

$16.71 MKD 873

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 MKD 54.8

$0.58 MKD 30.07

$1.93 MKD 101

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 73.1

$1.10 MKD 57.4

$1.83 MKD 95.5

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 MKD 68.4

$0.65 MKD 33.95

$2.04 MKD 106

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 MKD 104

$1.14 MKD 59.7

$2.85 MKD 149

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 45.97

$0.55 MKD 28.60

$1.27 MKD 66.4

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 MKD 53.5

$0.57 MKD 29.93

$1.53 MKD 80.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 MKD 36.50

$0.40 MKD 20.70

$1.18 MKD 61.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 29.34

$0.39 MKD 20.27

$0.77 MKD 40.01

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.17 MKD 166

$2.80 MKD 146

$3.54 MKD 185

Wine (Bottle)

$6.56 MKD 343

$3.75 MKD 196

$11.23 MKD 587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MKD 53.9

$0.91 MKD 47.76

$1.38 MKD 72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MKD 76.8

$0.95 MKD 49.79

$2.28 MKD 119

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MKD 37.63

$0.54 MKD 28.10

$1.11 MKD 58.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.82 MKD 1,454

$18.54 MKD 969

$33.38 MKD 1,745

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MKD 60.0

$0.95 MKD 49.89

$1.91 MKD 99.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MKD 32.03

$0.44 MKD 22.80

$1.05 MKD 54.8

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 MKD 401

$5.76 MKD 301

$9.59 MKD 501

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 MKD 75.8

$1.37 MKD 71.7

$1.64 MKD 86.0

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

$34.1K MKD 1.8M

$30.3K MKD 1.6M

$37.9K MKD 2.0M

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

$30.4K MKD 1.6M

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

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

$149 MKD 7,791

$93.3 MKD 4,878

$224 MKD 11.7K

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

$17.83 MKD 932

$11.35 MKD 593

$22.70 MKD 1,187

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.47 MKD 966

$13.04 MKD 682

$27.95 MKD 1,461

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.77 MKD 1,661

$18.91 MKD 989

$47.28 MKD 2,472

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 MKD 749

$5.65 MKD 295

$18.81 MKD 983

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 MKD 349

$4.77 MKD 249

$7.62 MKD 399

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

$284 MKD 14.9K

$200 MKD 10.4K

$393 MKD 20.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,227 MKD 221.0K

$2,289 MKD 119.7K

$6,868 MKD 359.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.1 MKD 3,666

$27.96 MKD 1,462

$130 MKD 6,822

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.15 MKD 2,204

$22.86 MKD 1,195

$57.1 MKD 2,987

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 MKD 4,994

$56.4 MKD 2,947

$139 MKD 7,255

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MKD 5,845

$65.7 MKD 3,435

$171 MKD 8,942

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 MKD 18.0K

$225 MKD 11.8K

$526 MKD 27.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 MKD 13.6K

$170 MKD 8,877

$377 MKD 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 MKD 29.1K

$369 MKD 19.3K

$852 MKD 44.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MKD 21.4K

$286 MKD 14.9K

$586 MKD 30.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,068 MKD 108.1K

$1,265 MKD 66.1K

$2,971 MKD 155.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,461 MKD 76.4K

$1,094 MKD 57.2K

$2,259 MKD 118.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 MKD 39.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.76

3.4

6.8

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

Last update: March 2, 2026

By City in North Macedonia

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Bitola	74550	45	$546	$892	$1,317	$1,778	258.55	65.96
2	Delcevo	17505	45	$503	$907	$1,121	$1,745	25.93	39.06
3	Gevgelija	20664	39	$529	$781	$1,340	$1,586	93.33	68.56
4	Gostivar	36000	40	$511	$816	$1,037	$1,604	163.81	63.95
5	Kavadarci	29320	40	$480	$776	$1,318	$1,628	50.46	52.38
6	Kicevo	31000	45	$618	$913	$1,367	$1,768	146.62	31.5
7	Kocani	29000	43	$469	$861	$1,337	$1,733	200.44	59.28
8	Kriva Palanka	14010	45	$525	$899	$1,407	$1,782	50.71	26.94
9	Kumanovo	75051	40	$406	$800	$1,116	$1,547	43.86	56.12
10	Ohrid	38940	47	$603	$924	$1,514	$2,143	98.83	51.64
11	Prilep	63308	38	$394	$767	$1,225	$1,550	174.72	57.13
12	Radovis	16690	45	$477	$891	$1,347	$1,803	104.91	57.66
13	Resen	8700	45	$586	$904	$1,530	$1,802	38.93	39.79
14	Skopje	422540	55	$632	$1,109	$1,519	$2,154	286.48	97.31
15	Stip	65000	39	$475	$778	$1,250	$1,485	55.27	77.64
16	Struga	33000	40	$509	$781	$1,339	$1,608	290.21	36.75
17	Strumica	36000	44	$525	$886	$1,115	$1,639	220.44	64.41
18	Sveti Nikole	13220	44	$507	$856	$1,124	$1,751	129.2	61.22
19	Tetovo	53000	49	$522	$989	$1,403	$1,937	75.68	64.02
20	Veles	43716	39	$523	$782	$1,007	$1,516	37.66	65.1

North Macedonia Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in North Macedonia - Frequently Asked Questions

North Macedonia offers a favorable balance for travelers, expats, and digital nomads who want steady value without sacrificing access to culture. The Cost of Living in North Macedonia remains lower than Western European capitals and often similar to or cheaper than many Balkan cities, especially outside the capital. In Skopje you will find affordable rents in modest neighborhoods and plenty of affordable local meals, while seaside towns and smaller cities can be even gentler on the budget. Your comfort level and pacing will shape your costs, from apartment size to coworking needs. Tip: scout neighborhoods in person and test a week of errands before committing.

Daily life in North Macedonia for a traveler, expat, or digital nomad centers on practical, variable costs and local rhythms. Housing searches in cities like Skopje and Ohrid favor shorter leases and flexible terms, while some neighborhoods offer better value for longer stays. Food options range from bustling markets to modern cafes, with fresh produce common and reasonably priced. Public transport is reliable in larger towns, with ridesharing and occasional taxis filling gaps. Co-working spaces are growing in urban cores, handy for remote work and meeting locals. North Macedonia living cost varies by neighborhood and season, so test options before committing. Tip: start with a longer trial stay to feel out commute times and neighborhood vibes.

Quality of life in North Macedonia benefits from a flexible budgeting approach that prioritizes essentials, local experiences, and sustainable savings. Build a simple plan that covers housing, food, transport, and a little for leisure, then adjust with the seasons and personal needs. Expect seasonal shifts in crowds and prices, with quieter periods offering better value for longer stays. For neighborhood fit, test a mix of central districts and residential pockets to balance walkability, safety, and access to markets. Embrace local markets for fresh produce, and choose public transport or bikes to keep costs predictable while you explore. Tip: set a monthly check-in to rebalance as needed.