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 $866 including rent across North Macedonia.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,296 including rent across North Macedonia.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,725 including rent across North Macedonia.

Living costs in North Macedonia vary widely – from $760 in more affordable cities to $1,081 in major hubs, spanning a $321 range across 20 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.57 MKD 408

$4.35 MKD 235

$11.36 MKD 612

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.37 MKD 1,529

$18.67 MKD 1,006

$46.68 MKD 2,516

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 MKD 295

$4.56 MKD 246

$7.29 MKD 393

Cappuccino

$1.86 MKD 100

$1.11 MKD 60.0

$2.78 MKD 150

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

$1.82 MKD 98.2

$1.35 MKD 72.7

$2.71 MKD 146

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 MKD 64.0

$0.92 MKD 49.69

$1.84 MKD 99.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 MKD 123

$1.32 MKD 71.4

$3.80 MKD 205

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 MKD 151

$1.99 MKD 107

$4.68 MKD 252

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 MKD 73.6

$1.16 MKD 62.6

$1.64 MKD 88.6

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 MKD 41.79

$0.59 MKD 31.63

$1.22 MKD 65.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MKD 90.6

$0.96 MKD 51.6

$2.29 MKD 124

Eggs

$2.24 MKD 121

$1.61 MKD 86.9

$2.99 MKD 161

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 MKD 460

$6.40 MKD 345

$11.90 MKD 642

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 MKD 385

$4.61 MKD 249

$9.21 MKD 497

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.28 MKD 662

$7.43 MKD 401

$16.73 MKD 902

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 MKD 56.2

$0.57 MKD 30.88

$1.92 MKD 104

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 75.6

$1.10 MKD 59.3

$1.83 MKD 98.7

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 72.4

$0.67 MKD 35.90

$2.09 MKD 113

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 MKD 104

$1.12 MKD 60.2

$2.79 MKD 150

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 50.7

$0.59 MKD 31.55

$1.36 MKD 73.2

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 55.4

$0.58 MKD 31.01

$1.54 MKD 83.1

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 MKD 36.78

$0.39 MKD 20.86

$1.15 MKD 62.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MKD 30.58

$0.39 MKD 21.13

$0.77 MKD 41.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 MKD 169

$2.78 MKD 150

$3.52 MKD 190

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 MKD 318

$3.63 MKD 196

$10.91 MKD 588

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MKD 58.2

$0.96 MKD 51.6

$1.45 MKD 78.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MKD 79.0

$0.95 MKD 51.2

$2.27 MKD 123

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MKD 38.86

$0.54 MKD 29.02

$1.12 MKD 60.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.22 MKD 1,521

$18.80 MKD 1,014

$33.85 MKD 1,825

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MKD 62.1

$0.96 MKD 51.7

$1.92 MKD 103

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MKD 33.11

$0.44 MKD 23.57

$1.05 MKD 56.7

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.43 MKD 400

$5.58 MKD 301

$9.29 MKD 501

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 MKD 81.4

$1.43 MKD 77.0

$1.71 MKD 92.3

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

$34.4K MKD 1.9M

$30.6K MKD 1.6M

$38.2K MKD 2.1M

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)

$152 MKD 8,206

$95.3 MKD 5,138

$229 MKD 12.3K

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

$17.62 MKD 950

$11.21 MKD 604

$22.43 MKD 1,209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.37 MKD 990

$12.97 MKD 699

$27.80 MKD 1,498

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.02 MKD 1,672

$18.47 MKD 995

$46.18 MKD 2,489

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.18 MKD 764

$5.59 MKD 301

$18.61 MKD 1,003

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 MKD 344

$4.56 MKD 246

$7.29 MKD 393

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

$281 MKD 15.2K

$198 MKD 10.6K

$389 MKD 21.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,173 MKD 224.9K

$2,260 MKD 121.8K

$6,781 MKD 365.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.0 MKD 3,881

$28.71 MKD 1,548

$134 MKD 7,221

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.04 MKD 2,212

$22.25 MKD 1,199

$55.6 MKD 2,999

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 MKD 5,155

$56.4 MKD 3,042

$139 MKD 7,488

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MKD 6,056

$66.0 MKD 3,559

$172 MKD 9,264

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 MKD 18.8K

$228 MKD 12.3K

$532 MKD 28.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 MKD 14.2K

$172 MKD 9,263

$382 MKD 20.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 MKD 30.3K

$373 MKD 20.1K

$861 MKD 46.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 MKD 22.2K

$287 MKD 15.5K

$590 MKD 31.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,979 MKD 106.7K

$1,225 MKD 66.0K

$2,860 MKD 154.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,352 MKD 72.9K

$1,008 MKD 54.3K

$2,205 MKD 118.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$768 MKD 41.4K

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 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $283 in North Macedonia. For reference, capital rent is $423 in Skopje, and $241 in Prilep.

National average salary: $657. With average costs at $866, 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 $1,081 per month, while Prilep offers the lowest costs at $760 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($866) is 35% below the global median of $1,339.

Average rent ($283) is 55% below the global median of $628.

Dining out ($26.00) is 47% below the global median of $49.00.

Public transport ($22.00) is 33% 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	$500	$871	$1,293	$1,752	146.55	64.54
2	Delcevo	17505	45	$516	$911	$1,269	$1,704	102.95	29.77
3	Gevgelija	20664	39	$546	$771	$1,345	$1,626	119.42	74.15
4	Gostivar	36000	40	$534	$801	$1,304	$1,625	105.13	58.38
5	Kavadarci	29320	40	$578	$800	$1,158	$1,597	38.41	59.89
6	Kicevo	31000	45	$538	$912	$1,363	$1,761	50.87	30.54
7	Kocani	29000	43	$468	$852	$1,261	$1,736	138.31	73.82
8	Kriva Palanka	14010	45	$620	$912	$1,286	$1,767	241.91	24.21
9	Kumanovo	75051	40	$443	$804	$1,026	$1,580	29.12	66.86
10	Ohrid	38940	47	$647	$928	$1,648	$2,117	26.12	61.25
11	Prilep	63308	38	$487	$760	$1,256	$1,523	320.78	52.33
12	Radovis	16690	45	$481	$905	$1,380	$1,765	124.83	61.72
13	Resen	8700	45	$625	$903	$1,171	$1,806	353.09	39.68
14	Skopje	422540	55	$567	$1,081	$1,459	$2,131	69.07	96.13
15	Stip	65000	39	$541	$779	$1,142	$1,506	54.61	74.84
16	Struga	33000	40	$472	$781	$1,233	$1,617	38.34	38.04
17	Strumica	36000	44	$432	$873	$1,144	$1,624	17.49	65.8
18	Sveti Nikole	13220	44	$534	$878	$1,459	$1,779	224.75	77.18
19	Tetovo	53000	49	$563	$1,003	$1,245	$1,964	163.12	65.57
20	Veles	43716	39	$417	$786	$1,264	$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 $760 to $1,081 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 $760 in budget-friendly smaller cities to $1,081 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.