Cost of Living in North Macedonia - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: North Macedonia
Address: MK

Monthly Cost of Living

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $864 including rent across North Macedonia.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,298 including rent across North Macedonia.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,731 including rent across North Macedonia.

Living costs in North Macedonia vary widely – from $744 in more affordable cities to $1,112 in major hubs, spanning a $368 range across 20 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 MKD 405

$4.42 MKD 233

$11.54 MKD 608

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.97 MKD 1,527

$19.07 MKD 1,005

$47.68 MKD 2,512

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 MKD 295

$4.66 MKD 246

$7.45 MKD 393

Cappuccino

$1.87 MKD 98.8

$1.12 MKD 59.0

$2.80 MKD 147

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

$1.81 MKD 95.6

$1.34 MKD 70.8

$2.70 MKD 142

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 MKD 65.7

$0.97 MKD 51.0

$1.94 MKD 102

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 MKD 116

$1.28 MKD 67.6

$3.68 MKD 194

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 MKD 146

$1.96 MKD 103

$4.61 MKD 243

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.8

$1.14 MKD 60.1

$1.62 MKD 85.1

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 37.94

$0.54 MKD 28.71

$1.13 MKD 59.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 MKD 85.1

$0.92 MKD 48.50

$2.20 MKD 116

Eggs

$2.16 MKD 114

$1.55 MKD 81.9

$2.88 MKD 152

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.51 MKD 449

$6.38 MKD 336

$11.87 MKD 625

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.46 MKD 393

$4.81 MKD 253

$9.61 MKD 506

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.43 MKD 655

$7.52 MKD 397

$16.94 MKD 893

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 MKD 53.2

$0.55 MKD 29.19

$1.86 MKD 98.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 MKD 74.3

$1.11 MKD 58.3

$1.84 MKD 97.1

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 MKD 68.6

$0.65 MKD 34.05

$2.03 MKD 107

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 MKD 106

$1.16 MKD 61.2

$2.90 MKD 153

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 49.46

$0.58 MKD 30.78

$1.36 MKD 71.4

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 51.8

$0.55 MKD 29.02

$1.47 MKD 77.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 MKD 34.72

$0.37 MKD 19.69

$1.11 MKD 58.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MKD 28.18

$0.37 MKD 19.47

$0.73 MKD 38.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 MKD 165

$2.77 MKD 146

$3.50 MKD 185

Wine (Bottle)

$6.41 MKD 338

$3.83 MKD 202

$11.51 MKD 607

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MKD 57.3

$0.96 MKD 50.8

$1.46 MKD 76.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MKD 75.5

$0.93 MKD 48.92

$2.22 MKD 117

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 40.33

$0.57 MKD 30.11

$1.18 MKD 62.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.04 MKD 1,478

$18.69 MKD 985

$33.65 MKD 1,773

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 58.6

$0.92 MKD 48.74

$1.85 MKD 97.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MKD 31.96

$0.43 MKD 22.75

$1.04 MKD 54.7

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.55 MKD 398

$5.67 MKD 299

$9.43 MKD 497

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 MKD 76.6

$1.37 MKD 72.5

$1.65 MKD 86.8

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)

$31.0K MKD 1.6M

$28.6K MKD 1.5M

$34.3K MKD 1.8M

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

$149 MKD 7,871

$93.5 MKD 4,929

$224 MKD 11.8K

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

$17.66 MKD 931

$11.24 MKD 592

$22.48 MKD 1,185

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.32 MKD 966

$12.94 MKD 682

$27.73 MKD 1,461

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.08 MKD 1,691

$19.10 MKD 1,006

$47.75 MKD 2,517

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.43 MKD 761

$5.69 MKD 300

$18.94 MKD 998

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 MKD 350

$4.74 MKD 250

$7.58 MKD 400

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

$281 MKD 14.8K

$198 MKD 10.4K

$389 MKD 20.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,123 MKD 217.3K

$2,233 MKD 117.7K

$6,700 MKD 353.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.1 MKD 3,797

$28.73 MKD 1,514

$134 MKD 7,065

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.81 MKD 2,203

$22.67 MKD 1,195

$56.7 MKD 2,987

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 MKD 5,048

$56.5 MKD 2,979

$139 MKD 7,334

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 5,936

$66.2 MKD 3,489

$172 MKD 9,081

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 MKD 18.2K

$226 MKD 11.9K

$527 MKD 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 MKD 13.4K

$166 MKD 8,751

$369 MKD 19.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 MKD 30.1K

$380 MKD 20.0K

$876 MKD 46.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$404 MKD 21.3K

$282 MKD 14.9K

$579 MKD 30.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,029 MKD 106.9K

$1,256 MKD 66.2K

$2,934 MKD 154.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,387 MKD 73.1K

$1,035 MKD 54.5K

$2,263 MKD 119.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$768 MKD 40.5K

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: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $284 across North Macedonia. For reference, capital rent is $429 in Skopje, and $243 in Prilep.

National average salary: $671. With average costs at $864, the gap is significant. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $189 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $26.00 for two.

In Skopje (capital), expect about $1,112 per month, while Prilep offers the lowest costs at $744 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($864) is 36% below the global median of $1,340.

Average rent ($284) is 55% below the global median of $627.

Dining out ($26.00) is 46% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($21.00) is 36% below the global median of $33.00.

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	$519	$892	$1,321	$1,751	146.55	64.54
2	Delcevo	17505	45	$503	$897	$1,299	$1,742	102.95	29.77
3	Gevgelija	20664	39	$519	$767	$1,093	$1,591	119.42	74.15
4	Gostivar	36000	40	$494	$796	$1,117	$1,593	105.13	58.38
5	Kavadarci	29320	40	$488	$792	$1,251	$1,635	38.41	59.89
6	Kicevo	31000	45	$557	$901	$1,197	$1,732	50.87	30.54
7	Kocani	29000	43	$518	$869	$1,224	$1,734	138.31	73.82
8	Kriva Palanka	14010	45	$482	$911	$1,306	$1,798	241.91	24.21
9	Kumanovo	75051	40	$521	$780	$1,192	$1,579	29.12	66.86
10	Ohrid	38940	47	$610	$921	$1,276	$2,129	26.12	61.25
11	Prilep	63308	38	$506	$744	$1,049	$1,566	320.78	52.33
12	Radovis	16690	45	$550	$898	$1,253	$1,823	124.83	61.72
13	Resen	8700	45	$623	$899	$1,160	$1,836	353.09	39.68
14	Skopje	422540	55	$646	$1,112	$1,676	$2,130	69.07	96.13
15	Stip	65000	39	$525	$778	$1,268	$1,497	54.61	74.84
16	Struga	33000	40	$539	$784	$1,117	$1,609	38.34	38.04
17	Strumica	36000	44	$522	$882	$1,146	$1,634	17.49	65.8
18	Sveti Nikole	13220	44	$519	$887	$1,324	$1,759	224.75	77.18
19	Tetovo	53000	49	$531	$998	$1,158	$1,963	163.12	65.57
20	Veles	43716	39	$552	$770	$1,051	$1,517	51.54	67.53

North Macedonia Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 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.

As of 2026, living expenses in North Macedonia span $744 to $1,112 monthly. Capitals and tourist hotspots sit at the top end; provincial towns offer substantially cheaper living.

North Macedonia covers a wide cost spectrum. As of 2026, monthly expenses run from about $744 in budget-friendly smaller cities to $1,112 in the priciest areas. The gap is big enough to meaningfully affect lifestyle for anyone on a fixed income.

Outside the capital and tourist areas, costs in North Macedonia drop fast. Prilep is one of the best budget options – lower costs without giving up access to essential services and everyday amenities.

$1,000 a month goes far in North Macedonia, especially outside the big cities. It's a realistic single-person budget that covers housing, food, transport, and leisure comfortably.

Living in North Macedonia is cheap by global standards. Regional cities offer the best value, with the capital Skopje sitting higher. Low living costs are one of the country's main draws for expats, retirees, and anyone stretching a budget.