Cost Of Living in Skopje 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Skopje

Whether you're living in Skopje or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Skopje is 35,000 MKD. Expenses can range from 4,900 MKD at the minimum level to 230,000 MKD at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Skopje is 58,000 MKD. Expenditure can range from 19,000 MKD to 310,000 MKD per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Skopje is 77,000 MKD per month. Families spend anywhere from 27,000 MKD to 500,000 MKD.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Skopje is 26,000 MKD. Students spend from 3,900 MKD to 170,000 MKD per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Skopje

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Skopje is 96% This means that on average, people spend around 96% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 15% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
87%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

80%

96%

Couple
91%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

84%

100%

Family
100%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

93%

110%

How do people spend their money in Skopje?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Skopje typically spend from 13% to 32% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 24% being the average. The average spend on housing is 15,000 MKD with expenditure ranging from 1,200 MKD to 150,000 MKD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Skopje ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 2,500 MKD with 190 MKD and 25,000 MKD being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 390 MKD to 50,000 MKD on commuting with 5,000 MKD being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Skopje is 13,000 MKD. The cost of groceries can range between 960 MKD to 130,000 MKD. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Skopje allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 270 MKD to 35,000 MKD with 3,500 MKD being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 150 MKD to 20,000 MKD with 2,000 MKD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 3,000 MKD per month with 230 MKD being the minimum spent amount and 30,000 MKD being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Skopje every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Skopje manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 64% of the surveyed people in Skopje said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 36% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Skopje

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 7.7% to 30% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 14% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 16,000 MKD on average with savings ranging from 1,200 MKD to 160,000 MKD.

67% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 62% of couples said the same. 56% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Skopje?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 11% to 32% of their monthly income to savings, with 19% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 11,000 MKD with 1,200 MKD and 75,000 MKD being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 8.8% to 31% of their monthly income, with 17% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 19,000 MKD with 6,200 MKD and 100,000 MKD being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Skopje can save anywhere between 7.7% to 29% of their monthly income, with 14% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 25,000 MKD with 8,700 MKD and 160,000 MKD being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Skopje

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Skopje. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 14% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 20% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Skopje

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Skopje

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Skopje?

Around 62% of surveyed residents think that living in Skopje is affordable with proper budgeting while 38% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Skopje

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options63%

Few low-cost options37%

Based on the survey, 63% of the people living in Skopje have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 37% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Skopje whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes60%

No40%

Based on the survey, 40% of the people living in Skopje said that they don't have an emergency fund while 60% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Macedonia

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy51%

We asked residents of Macedonia whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 49% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 51% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Macedonia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 44% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 56% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance44%

Easily manages finances56%

Financial goals of people in Skopje

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Skopje, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 41% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 7% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 13% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Skopje

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Skopje and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Macedonia is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Skopje about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Skopje

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Skopje

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 32% of the people in Skopje have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 68% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Skopje

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 35% of the people's monthly income in Skopje goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Skopje pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 17% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 11% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Skopje

9% of debtors in Skopje confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 29% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 16% of people and personal loans rose at 42%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Skopje.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Skopje

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Skopje how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Skopje

Rent Cost in Skopje

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

4,200 MKD

6,400 MKD

17,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$75

$110

$300

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

6,400 MKD

10,000 MKD

25,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110

$180

$450

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

8,500 MKD

13,000 MKD

34,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150

$220

$600

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

10,000 MKD

17,000 MKD

46,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$180

$300

$820

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

20,000 MKD

51,000 MKD

100,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$360

$900

$1,800

Townhouse monthly rent cost

17,000 MKD

25,000 MKD

73,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300

$450

$1,300

House monthly rent cost

20,000 MKD

51,000 MKD

100,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$360

$900

$1,800

Villa monthly rent cost

25,000 MKD

64,000 MKD

100,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$450

$1,100

$1,800

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Skopje ranges between 4,200 MKD and 17,000 MKD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 6,400 MKD to 25,000 MKD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 8,500 MKD and 34,000 MKD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 10,000 MKD to 46,000 MKD. The average rent of a townhouse in Skopje is around 25,000 MKD while house rental costs can be as high as 51,000 MKD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 25,000 MKD to 100,000 MKD per month.

Apartment and house prices in Skopje

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

850,000 MKD

1.3M MKD

2.5M MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15,000

$22,000

$45,000

1-bedroom apartment price

1M MKD

1.7M MKD

6.4M MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$18,000

$30,000

$110,000

2-bedroom apartment price

1.7M MKD

5.1M MKD

10M MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$30,000

$90,000

$180,000

3-bedroom apartment price

5.7M MKD

8.5M MKD

25M MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100,000

$150,000

$450,000

Townhouse price

7.3M MKD

17M MKD

64M MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130,000

$300,000

$1.1M

House price

8.5M MKD

51M MKD

73M MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150,000

$900,000

$1.3M

Villa price

10M MKD

57M MKD

85M MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$180,000

$1,000,000

$1.5M

The average price of a studio apartment in Skopje can range from 850,000 MKD to 2.5M MKD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1M MKD to 6.4M MKD. A villa can cost you 57M MKD on average with prices ranging from 10M MKD to 85M MKD.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Skopje can be x93 to x211 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x93 multiples of the average monthly salary in Skopje.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Skopje is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 42% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Skopje

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Skopje

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

290 MKD

2,100 MKD

14,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.1

$37

$240

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

770 MKD

2,600 MKD

17,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$14

$46

$300

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

1,300 MKD

3,900 MKD

25,000 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$24

$68

$440

Internet and cable cost

230 MKD

460 MKD

620 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.1

$8.2

$11

Mobile phone bill and charges

190 MKD

310 MKD

930 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.3

$5.4

$16

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Skopje ranges between 290 MKD and 14,000 MKD with average being 2,100 MKD, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 2,600 MKD with 770 MKD and 17,000 MKD being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 3,900 MKD. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 230 MKD to 620 MKD with 460 MKD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 310 MKD but can range between 190 MKD and 930 MKD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Skopje is around 7.7%. This means that people pay 7.7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4.4% to 12% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Skopje

Prices and cost of goods and services in Skopje

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

46 MKD

93 MKD

150 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.82

$1.6

$2.7

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Skopje is approximatly 93 MKD with meal cost ranging from 46 MKD to 150 MKD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

160 MKD

240 MKD

490 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.9

$4.3

$8.6

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 160 MKD and 490 MKD with 240 MKD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Skopje.

Fine dining meal for one price

320 MKD

490 MKD

1,900 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.7

$8.6

$34

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 320 MKD to 1,900 MKD with the average cost being 490 MKD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Skopje.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

39 MKD

62 MKD

93 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.68

$1.1

$1.6

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Skopje is around 62 MKD. Price ranges between 39 MKD and 93 MKD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

31 MKD

37 MKD

46 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.54

$0.65

$0.82

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Skopje is 37 MKD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 46 MKD and the minimum being 31 MKD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

23 MKD

31 MKD

46 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.41

$0.54

$0.82

A dozen eggs costs around 31 MKD on average with 23 MKD and 46 MKD being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

53 MKD

68 MKD

97 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.93

$1.2

$1.7

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Skopje is between 53 MKD and 97 MKD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 68 MKD.

Pack of beef price

62 MKD

93 MKD

190 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.6

$3.3

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 93 MKD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

25 MKD

34 MKD

48 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.44

$0.60

$0.85

A bag of rice in Skopje costs around 34 MKD on average with prices rangeing between 25 MKD and 48 MKD depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

9.3 MKD

12 MKD

23 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.16

$0.22

$0.41

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 9.3 MKD to 23 MKD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

17 MKD

22 MKD

36 MKD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.29

$0.38

$0.63

A bag of apples costs 22 MKD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Skopje is around 30%. This means that people spend 30% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 21% to 37% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 5,500 MKD per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 780 MKD and 37,000 MKD depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 8,100 MKD per month. That number can be get as low as 2,700 MKD or a high as 43,000 MKD. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 4,900 MKD to 90,000 MKD with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Skopje

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Skopje

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Skopje

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Skopje