Cost Of Living For a Student in Skopje 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: MKD
Average monthly spending for students in Skopje
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Skopje?
Students in Skopje spend around 26,000 MKD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 3,900 MKD or as high as 170,000 MKD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Skopje
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
| 320 MKD | 490 MKD | 1,900 MKD |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 120,000 MKD | 230,000 MKD | 310,000 MKD |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 340 MKD | 510 MKD | 1,000 MKD |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 150 MKD | 1,000 MKD | 6,800 MKD |
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 410 MKD | 510 MKD | 1,000 MKD |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
| 280 MKD | 390 MKD | 1,300 MKD |
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
| 250 MKD | 320 MKD | 1,700 MKD |
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 4,200 MKD | 6,400 MKD | 17,000 MKD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 6,400 MKD | 10,000 MKD | 25,000 MKD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 8,500 MKD | 13,000 MKD | 34,000 MKD |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 850,000 MKD | 1.3M MKD | 2.5M MKD |
1-bedroom apartment
2-bedroom apartment
| 1.7M MKD | 5.1M MKD | 10M MKD |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 4,600 MKD | 5,800 MKD | 7,700 MKD |
Double Bed
| 3,100 MKD | 4,600 MKD | 5,800 MKD |
Single Bed
| 2,700 MKD | 3,600 MKD | 4,600 MKD |
Living Room
| 5,200 MKD | 6,600 MKD | 23,000 MKD |
Dining Table
| 2,300 MKD | 3,100 MKD | 5,800 MKD |
Sofa or Couch
| 3,100 MKD | 4,200 MKD | 9,300 MKD |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 3,100 MKD | 4,600 MKD | 9,300 MKD |
Fridge or Freezer
| 2,700 MKD | 4,200 MKD | 5,800 MKD |
Washing Machine
| 3,600 MKD | 5,200 MKD | 9,300 MKD |
Stove or Cooker
| 3,300 MKD | 4,200 MKD | 5,800 MKD |
Mobile Phone
| 3,900 MKD | 4,600 MKD | 6,600 MKD |
Laptop or Computer
| 4,200 MKD | 5,200 MKD | 9,300 MKD |
How do students spend their money in Skopje?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 24%)
| LOW | $16 920 MKD |
| AVERAGE | $110 6,100 MKD |
| HIGH | $720 41,000 MKD |
| Per Month |
Students in Skopje typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 6,100 MKD with expenditure ranging from 920 MKD to 41,000 MKD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $2.7 150 MKD |
| AVERAGE | $18 1,000 MKD |
| HIGH | $120 6,800 MKD |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Skopje ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1,000 MKD with 150 MKD and 6,800 MKD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $4.8 270 MKD |
| AVERAGE | $31 1,800 MKD |
| HIGH | $210 12,000 MKD |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 270 MKD to 12,000 MKD in a month on commuting with 1,800 MKD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $14 770 MKD |
| AVERAGE | $90 5,100 MKD |
| HIGH | $600 34,000 MKD |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Skopje is 5,100 MKD. The cost of groceries can range between 770 MKD to 34,000 MKD. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $4.1 230 MKD |
| AVERAGE | $27 1,500 MKD |
| HIGH | $180 10,000 MKD |
| Per Month |
Students in Skopje allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 230 MKD to 10,000 MKD with 1,500 MKD being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $3.4 190 MKD |
| AVERAGE | $22 1,300 MKD |
| HIGH | $150 8,500 MKD |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 190 MKD to 8,500 MKD with 1,300 MKD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $13 730 MKD |
| AVERAGE | $85 4,800 MKD |
| HIGH | $570 32,000 MKD |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 4,800 MKD per month with 730 MKD being the minimum spent amount and 32,000 MKD being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $10 580 MKD |
| AVERAGE | $67 3,800 MKD |
| HIGH | $450 26,000 MKD |
| Per Month |
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
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Skopje
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Skopje?
Around 62% of surveyed students 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 students 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 students 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 For Students
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 students of Skopje whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes60%
No40%
Based on the survey, 40% of the students 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 student guardians and parents in Skopje 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 students 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%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Skopje
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Skopje
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,200 MKD | 6,400 MKD | 17,000 MKD |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 6,400 MKD | 10,000 MKD | 25,000 MKD |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 8,500 MKD | 13,000 MKD | 34,000 MKD |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 10,000 MKD | 17,000 MKD | 46,000 MKD |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 20,000 MKD | 51,000 MKD | 100,000 MKD |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 17,000 MKD | 25,000 MKD | 73,000 MKD |
House monthly rent cost
| 20,000 MKD | 51,000 MKD | 100,000 MKD |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 25,000 MKD | 64,000 MKD | 100,000 MKD |
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 |
1-bedroom apartment price
2-bedroom apartment price
| 1.7M MKD | 5.1M MKD | 10M MKD |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 5.7M MKD | 8.5M MKD | 25M MKD |
| $100,000 | $150,000 | $450,000 |
Townhouse price
House price
Villa price
| $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.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Skopje will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 33 | x93 monthly income | 211 |
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
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
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.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
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.
Housing Affordability Index
28% 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.
| 77 MKD | 1,000 MKD | 10,000 MKD |
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
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Skopje
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 150 MKD | 1,000 MKD | 6,800 MKD |
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 1,000 MKD. The cost of internet and WiFi 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
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
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
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
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
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
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 |
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..
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Skopje is around 30%. This means that students 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 students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 770 MKD to 34,000 MKD with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
