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 $904 including rent across North Macedonia.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,356 including rent across North Macedonia.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,808 including rent across North Macedonia.

Living costs in North Macedonia vary widely – from $765 in more affordable cities to $1,143 in major hubs, spanning a $378 range across 20 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 MKD 410

$4.24 MKD 225

$11.55 MKD 614

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.92 MKD 1,538

$18.67 MKD 993

$46.68 MKD 2,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.49 MKD 292

$4.57 MKD 243

$7.32 MKD 389

Cappuccino

$1.79 MKD 95.1

$1.14 MKD 60.7

$2.84 MKD 151

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

$1.72 MKD 91.4

$1.33 MKD 70.8

$2.67 MKD 142

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 MKD 66.2

$0.95 MKD 50.6

$1.90 MKD 101

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 MKD 116

$1.40 MKD 74.5

$3.29 MKD 175

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 MKD 148

$1.86 MKD 99.1

$4.09 MKD 218

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 MKD 71.7

$1.16 MKD 61.9

$1.54 MKD 82.1

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 MKD 39.10

$0.57 MKD 30.41

$1.13 MKD 60.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 MKD 84.6

$1.10 MKD 58.7

$2.20 MKD 117

Eggs

$2.26 MKD 120

$1.64 MKD 87.2

$2.84 MKD 151

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.58 MKD 456

$6.71 MKD 357

$12.46 MKD 662

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 MKD 363

$3.77 MKD 200

$9.06 MKD 482

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.45 MKD 662

$7.46 MKD 397

$18.28 MKD 972

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 MKD 63.9

$0.55 MKD 29.32

$1.85 MKD 98.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MKD 77.9

$1.14 MKD 60.7

$1.90 MKD 101

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 MKD 69.7

$0.82 MKD 43.39

$2.01 MKD 107

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 MKD 103

$0.95 MKD 50.8

$2.85 MKD 152

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 MKD 50.8

$0.66 MKD 34.99

$1.54 MKD 82.0

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 52.7

$0.57 MKD 30.09

$1.67 MKD 88.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 MKD 36.28

$0.56 MKD 29.69

$0.97 MKD 51.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MKD 28.29

$0.37 MKD 19.54

$0.73 MKD 38.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 MKD 178

$2.98 MKD 158

$3.72 MKD 198

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 MKD 307

$3.84 MKD 204

$11.54 MKD 613

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MKD 54.9

$0.92 MKD 48.67

$1.46 MKD 77.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MKD 73.9

$1.11 MKD 59.2

$2.22 MKD 118

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 41.08

$0.58 MKD 30.67

$1.16 MKD 61.9

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 MKD 1,482

$18.59 MKD 988

$49.52 MKD 2,633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 MKD 68.1

$1.11 MKD 58.8

$1.84 MKD 97.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 MKD 36.70

$0.46 MKD 24.29

$1.46 MKD 77.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 MKD 365

$4.58 MKD 243

$9.16 MKD 487

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 MKD 77.5

$1.37 MKD 72.8

$1.59 MKD 84.7

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

$33.9K MKD 1.8M

$37.7K MKD 2.0M

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

$30.2K MKD 1.6M

$26.5K MKD 1.4M

$34.1K MKD 1.8M

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

$149 MKD 7,919

$94.0 MKD 4,995

$225 MKD 12.0K

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

$17.45 MKD 928

$9.30 MKD 495

$18.90 MKD 1,005

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.13 MKD 964

$13.00 MKD 691

$33.41 MKD 1,777

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.19 MKD 1,499

$18.92 MKD 1,006

$47.30 MKD 2,515

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.88 MKD 791

$7.44 MKD 396

$18.60 MKD 989

Cinema Ticket

$6.53 MKD 347

$4.66 MKD 248

$7.47 MKD 397

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

$283 MKD 15.0K

$189 MKD 10.1K

$473 MKD 25.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,927 MKD 262.0K

$2,273 MKD 120.8K

$7,196 MKD 382.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 MKD 3,685

$28.20 MKD 1,500

$122 MKD 6,498

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.92 MKD 2,069

$22.26 MKD 1,184

$55.7 MKD 2,959

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 MKD 4,769

$55.6 MKD 2,957

$121 MKD 6,408

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 MKD 5,510

$55.4 MKD 2,943

$157 MKD 8,339

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 MKD 16.7K

$222 MKD 11.8K

$463 MKD 24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 MKD 13.4K

$171 MKD 9,068

$379 MKD 20.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 MKD 29.3K

$342 MKD 18.2K

$935 MKD 49.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 MKD 20.0K

$267 MKD 14.2K

$654 MKD 34.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,919 MKD 102.1K

$1,210 MKD 64.4K

$2,886 MKD 153.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,355 MKD 72.0K

$948 MKD 50.4K

$2,276 MKD 121.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$756 MKD 40.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.69

6.9

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

Last update: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $277 in North Macedonia. For reference, capital rent is $439 in Skopje, and $242 in Prilep.

National average salary: $659. With average costs at $904, the gap is significant. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $193 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $28.00 for two.

In Skopje (capital), expect about $1,143 per month, while Prilep offers the lowest costs at $765 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($904) is 34% below the global median of $1,368.

Average rent ($277) is 58% below the global median of $667.

Dining out ($28.00) is 42% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($22.00) is 35% below the global median of $34.00.

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	41	$545	$882	$1,311	$1,771	146.55	64.54
2	Delcevo	17505	46	$584	$984	$1,484	$1,888	102.95	29.77
3	Gevgelija	20664	38	$546	$820	$1,402	$1,726	119.42	74.15
4	Gostivar	36000	40	$539	$868	$1,138	$1,721	105.13	58.38
5	Kavadarci	29320	37	$514	$797	$1,394	$1,614	38.41	59.89
6	Kicevo	31000	43	$584	$925	$1,396	$1,770	50.87	30.54
7	Kocani	29000	41	$557	$871	$1,516	$1,817	138.31	73.82
8	Kriva Palanka	14010	46	$678	$995	$1,681	$2,042	241.91	24.21
9	Kumanovo	75051	38	$468	$815	$1,094	$1,547	29.12	66.86
10	Ohrid	38940	46	$677	$983	$1,701	$2,179	26.12	61.25
11	Prilep	63308	35	$471	$765	$983	$1,548	320.78	52.33
12	Radovis	16690	43	$621	$935	$1,225	$1,807	124.83	61.72
13	Resen	8700	46	$608	$988	$1,665	$1,997	353.09	39.68
14	Skopje	422540	54	$660	$1,143	$1,617	$2,296	69.07	96.13
15	Stip	65000	39	$470	$818	$1,278	$1,636	54.61	74.84
16	Struga	33000	42	$577	$898	$1,165	$1,812	38.34	38.04
17	Strumica	36000	41	$491	$894	$1,341	$1,620	17.49	65.8
18	Sveti Nikole	13220	41	$483	$878	$1,235	$1,788	224.75	77.18
19	Tetovo	53000	48	$496	$1,026	$1,512	$2,072	163.12	65.57
20	Veles	43716	37	$521	$792	$1,128	$1,511	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 $765 to $1,143 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 $765 in budget-friendly smaller cities to $1,143 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.