Today, I will share our estimated monthly cost to retire in Ohrid North Macedonia including rent, groceries, utilities, internet, cell phone, restaurants, drinking water, laundry, and transportation if the two of us retire here on a tight budget.
This was the first time either Qiang or I spent time in the country of North Macedonia.
We stayed in the city of Orhid in North Macedonia which is on the north east corner of Lake Orhid. Lake Orhid is one of the oldest lakes in Europe estimated to be 3-5 million years old.
We came to Ohrid North Macedonia by bus from Saranda Albania. North Macedonia is the 14th country on our Eastern European Tour. We have really enjoyed this tour and after it is completed we will start comparing, contrasting, and sharing our favorite countries and cities.
I have spent the last 17 years traveling all around the world finding the best places to retire overseas for less money than my home country the USA. North Macedonia is the 73rd country I have lived or visited and is Qiang’s 47th country.
We took the video of Ohrid you are watching with our feet on the ground here.
After I share sample costs of living in North Macedonia, I will share what I learned about healthcare, food, real estate, things to do, social considerations, visas, walkability, weather, Internet speeds, and expat considerations.
Estimated Cost to Retire in Ohrid North Macedonia
Rents: Today, I found this furnished 1 bedroom apartment in Ohrid advertised online for 340 Euros ($376 USD) per month. The ad shows that it is located on the map about 15 minute walk from the main square which is in the area we would want to live. If you rent for a short term on Airbnb it would be much more expensive.
A larger apartment closer to the old town could easily cost twice as much per month. So for the middle range expenses, I estimate $700 USD per month or more depending upon area and size.
Here is the process we use to find great apartments. So, we will show you a table of all estimated expenses in a moment. We will use $376 USD per month for our lower rent estimate and $700 per month for the middle cost of living estimate for expats who want more space.
In case these rents are too high for you, if you move 30 minutes out of the central area of Orhid the rents could easily be 30% lower. Subscribe now if you would like to know what retirement destination we will report on next.
Utilities: For the apartment above, we estimate the year-round average utilities for us would be about $80 USD per month. The utilities would cost more for the larger space, starting at around $110 USD per month.
Groceries: We would shop in the farmers market for fresh fruits and vegetables, and purchase nonperishable foods and other things like shampoo and detergents in the grocery stores. We estimate about $270 USD per month for groceries. Other expats are likely to spend more on imported groceries they miss from home spending $380 USD per month or more on groceries, since many don’t go to the farmer’s markets as often.
Restaurants: We would eat out twice per week mostly in more local-style restaurants averaging about $5 to $8 USD per meal per person and one or two splurges per month of $9 to $13 USD per meal per person. If you add all that up, we would spend around $230 per month for the two of us. We may have a beer here and there, but that is covered below in alcohol.
Other expats are likely to eat more the expensive expat-style restaurants and less in local-style restaurants, so they would likely spend more like $280 per month for 2 people in restaurants. It is lifestyle-dependent.
Cell Phone Data: The cheapest prepaid Telekom Macedonia SIM cards are about $23 USD for 30 days including unlimited data. My Android phone will act as a hotspot so we can both be on the internet when we are out of the house together.
Other (retired) expat couples are likely to buy two prepaid SIM cards so they would need about $46 USD per month.
Laundry: The apartments all seemed to have clothes washing machines. The above grocery estimate includes laundry detergent.
Drinking Water: We read online that the water is clean here and many people drink water from the tap but we would be a little more careful. We didn’t see reverse osmosis delivery in 20-liter jugs here so we would probably get a Brita water filter. The filter refills would be about $5 USD per month.
Internet: We read online that in-home wifi costs about $16 USD per month for 50 Mbps.
Public Transportation: We didn’t ride the local buses in ohrid because it is s small town and everything was within walking distance for us. But you can ride local public buses around town if you prefer for about 30 MKD (0.50 USD). We did take a taxi from the central bus station to our accommodations and back for 200 MKD ($2.67 USD) each way. So we estimate about $20 per month for public transportation in case we need to bring groceries home after shopping or get somewhere in a hurry with a taxi.
Other expats might walk less and spend more on taxis and less on public transportation, so I estimate $60 per month for them.
Alcohol (Optional): Domestic beers in grocery stores in North Macedonia start at 59 MKD ($1.06 USD) for the half-litre size which is about 50% larger than the standard-sized beer in the USA. In bars and restaurants, half-liter draft domestic beers run from about $2.50 to $4 USD. We estimate about $110 per month on alcohol for the two of us.
Many other expats would spend a higher amount for imported foreign or craft beers in expat bars, so about $210 USD per month for 2 people assuming they are not into imported whiskey or wine.
Entertainment (Optional): We would budget about $200 per month for entertainment for the two of us. We enjoy doing more do-it-yourself kinds of entertainment so expats would spend a little more, maybe $300 per month, for 2 of them?
Estimated Costs to Retire in Ohrid North Macedonia
|
Ohrid |
Lower (USD) |
Middle (USD) |
|
Rent |
376 |
700 |
|
Utilities |
80 |
110 |
|
Groceries |
270 |
380 |
|
Restaurants |
230 |
280 |
|
Cell Data |
23 |
46 |
|
Laundry |
0 |
0 |
|
Drinking Water |
5 |
5 |
|
Internet |
16 |
16 |
|
Transportation |
20 |
60 |
|
Total |
$1020 |
$1597 |
|
|
|
|
|
Alcohol |
110 |
210 |
|
Optional Total |
$1130 |
$1807 |
|
|
|
|
|
Entertainment |
200 |
300 |
|
Optional Total |
$1330 |
$2107 |
My above lower cost estimates would be for the two of us living on a tight budget. I gathered this data with my feet on the ground in Macedonia in August 2024.
I have been living overseas for 17 years, but when Qiang first started exploring the world with me in 2018, we were on a tighter budget. That was before the recent inflation. We spend more money now because we have it. We receive additional income from YouTube and Memberships.
Plus, slowly traveling the World costs more than the above stationary life estimates.
I would estimate that 80 to 90% of overseas retirees will spend significantly more than our above lower estimated budget. So, the middle estimate is just another example of what other expats might spend for these expenses if they moved here.
To understand what it would cost you to live here, you must put your feet on the ground, see what you would choose to rent, eat, drink, and how you would entertain yourself, and add it all up. It doesn’t matter what anyone else spends because we are all different.
If you are an expat living in Macedonia and you would liek to share your cost of living on this channel, please email me at https://vagabondbuddha.com/contact/. I will probably invite you on my channel as a guest to tell your story.
Macedonia Retirement Desirability Factors
I will now share what I learned about North Macedonia’’s retirement visas, healthcare, walkability, Internet, food, weather, things to do, social considerations, safety, expat communities, and real estate, and then assign an overall retirement desirability score to Ohrid.
Walkability: High. We walked everywhere in Ohrid. We found all of our daily needs within a 20-minute walk from our accommodations. So we would not need a car if we lived in Ohrid. Avoiding the expense of a car would be highly desirable to us.
Internet: High. The wifi in our Airbnb had about 30 Mbps down and 10 Mbps upload speeds, but we heard that we could get 50 Mbps for about $16 USD per month.
Food: High. There was a small Farmer’s market just a few blocks north from old town Ohrid. For fresh fruits and vegetables we would shop in the Farmers Market. For other nonperishable foods, meats, and other items we would shop in any of the supermarkets. Our webpage with links to all this information is the first link in the first comment below this video.
There are local restaurants with delicious meals starting $5 to $8 USD per meal per person and international food restaurants starting at around $9 to $13 USD. Our restaurant list is on the full report for Ohrid.
Weather: Medium. At 700 meters (2300 feet) above sea level you can expect colder weather than other sea level cities this far south. The coldest month in Ohrid is in January with an average daily high of just 43F (6C) and average nightly lows of 29F (-2C). The hottest month in Ohrid is July with an average daily high of 83F (28C) and nightly low of 57F (14C). The best time to visit Ohrid is May through September.
Snow is more likely from mid-November through mid-March when it could snow an inch or more for approximately 30 of those days.
Things to Do: Medium. Ohrid is a beautiful small town on a lake withall of the typical things people do in lake towns. It is also a tourist spot with boat tours, walking tours, and historical tours along with nightlife, restaurants, coffee shops, live music, festivals, and fairs.
Annual events in Ohrid include the Orthodox New Year’s Celebration, The Carnival of Vevchani, the Ohrid Mashki Vodici and the Zhenski Vodici, Ohrid Ultra-Trail Celebration, the Ohrid Waves International festival, the Ohrid Running Trcat, the Ohrid Children Folklore Festival, the Ohrid Prilep Beer Festival, and the Ohrid Summer Festival.
Social Considerations: Medium. The Language spoken in Ohrid is Macedonian, which uses the Cyrillic alphabet. English is generally spoken in the tourist areas of Ohrid, so you won’t have to worry too much about the language barrier until you get into the outlying areas of Ohrid. Ohrid is also a place where many English-speaking expats decide to retire. Thus, you will find many English speakers, both locals and foreigners in the tourist areas.
Safety Considerations: High. North Macedonia was ranked the 38th safest country in the world 94 countries safer than the USA. When I last checked, the US State Department webpage published a level 1 risk for North Macedonia–Exercise normal precaution in North Macedonia. You can also review my report, How to Travel the World Safely, which is how I have remained safe traveling the world for 17 years. We went out walking in the late evening drinking in central Ohrid and never felt a hint of trouble.
Expat Community: High. Macedonia joined NATO as a full member and applied for European Union membership in 2004. The negotiations for joining the EU are continuing but there is no set date or target for accession presently.
Here are a few Facebook pages that cater to English-speaking expats living in North Macedonia including Ohrid (1, 2, 3, 4). These online expat communities are great for learning all about things that expats want to learn when they first move overseas. Make sure to search for previous questions asked and answered recently before posting any questions to these groups.
Medical: Medium. This healthcare international comparison index ranks North Macedonia 75th in the world, 6 spots lower than the United States which ranks 69th. There are different ways healthcare is rated, but this one seems to be considering quality of care in relation to what patients are charged.
Because Ohrid is a small town, it does not have the resources that you will find in the capital of North Macedonia, Skopje. So, if you decide to move here, make sure to ask around for referrals and establish relationships with doctors based on the feedback you have gotten from others who have used their services. The above Expats Facebook pages may be a good source for that information.
Tourist Visa: High. Citizens of about 90 countries can visit North Macedonia as tourists for 90 days without obtaining a visa. This link provides a quick list of the countries but do double check with the North Macedonia Embassy in your home country before making any final plans. The tourist visa exemption is good for a maximum of 90 days stay during any 180 day period for many countries including the EU, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and 60 more countries listed at the above link.
Retire in North Macedonia: According to various sources online, foreigners can retire and move to North Macedonia with formalities such as proof of pension, evidence of accommodations, a valid passport, bank statements, and health insurance.
Rather than promoting any particular service I read about online, I would recommend that you request a referral to a lawyer on one of the North Macedonia Expat Facebook pages I shared above. Ask the expats there for an immigration lawyer who they have already successfully used to get residence permits for North Macedonia. I do not recommend paying someone to help you get residency unless or until you have confirmation from an expat they have successfully helped get residency.
Real Estate: High. When I read about it today, foreigners are allowed to purchase real estate in North Macedonia if they follow the proper procedures. Today, I saw this 2-bedroom furnished apartment for sale for 72k Euros or $79k USD, but if you are willing to live further outside the walkable city center you may be able to find an apartment for less.
However, I do not recommend buying real estate in a foreign country until you have lived there for an extended period of time making sure you love it. If you decide to buy real estate, you should also get your own lawyer who has no conflict of interest with you. For example, do not use a lawyer recommended by your real estate broker or your local lover. I would also seek a referral from an expat that has used their services to successfully buy real estate in North Macedonia.
Ohrid North Macedonia Retirement Desirability Score: Medium. Ohrid is a very charming city and would certainly be a lovely spot to retire if you are not afraid of snow on the ground about 30 days per year. As descrined above, the window for snow on the ground is 4 months so I would need to fly south for the those months. Otherwise, I would rate Ohrid as high desirability.
What would it cost you to live here in Ohrid?
You should also add anything to the above table that you spend money on in your home country that is not listed in the above table. Presumably, you find those things necessary in life. To do that, visit the Numbeo Ohrid and add anything not mentioned in the above table.
Also, if you are going to try to retire cheap offshore, make sure to read my report, the Two Biggest Risks of Retiring Early for Cheap Offshore, which explains why you should have emergency funds available for unexpectedly large expenses.
Never move anywhere until you have visited first personally to verify the living costs for your lifestyle and needs. I am not guaranteeing these prices. These are just my notes and estimates from the time of my visit and this post. Your costs will likely be drastically different depending on your lifestyle and the time since this post.
Ohrid History
Ohrid once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year. As such, Ohrid is known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans. The city has beautiful houses and monuments, and tourism is its main attraction. Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
The Greeks formerly named the city Lychnis which means a precious stone that emits light, a name which lasted until about 200 years BC.
Later, Ohrid was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire in the early medieval period, and was often referred to by Byzantine writers as Achrida. But, by 879 AD, the town was known by its present name, Ohrid.
Almost all surviving churches in Ohrid were built by the Byzantines and by the Bulgarians, with the rest dating back to the short time of Serbian rule during the late Middle Ages.
Like other parts of the Balkans, Ohrid has been fought over for centuries and its religious and ethnic makeup has varied accordingly over the centuries. In the most recent census the religious composition of the city was Orthodox Christians, 33,987 (80.9%), Muslims, 7,599 (18.1%), and others, 447 (1.1%).
Ohrid sits next to the clear blue waters of Lake Ohrid. The lake is 3 to 5 million years old.
Ohrid North Macedonia Walking Tour.
Ohrid Main Square: is known as Krusevska Republika Square named after a short-lived uprising against Ottoman rule in the town of Krusevo, Macedonia in 1903.
The Main Square is on the northern end of the Old Bazaar which is on the waterfront. There square is paved with marble and has flower gardens. The Chinar tree is 1,000 years old.
Ali Pasha Mosque: was built in 1572 near the 1,000-year old Chinar tree and was one of the first mosques to be built in Macedonia.
Old Bazaar Street is just one walking street extending up from the waterfront to the Main Square of town paved with cobblestones and marble slate. The Ohrid market provides a relaxed easy going feeling unlike other chaotic Bazaars around the world. There are kebabs and other Turkish foods from the Ottoman period.
Church of St. Sophia was built in Ohrid in the 9th century by Boris II on the foundation of an early Christian basilica of the 5th century. In the 15th century the church was converted to a mosque but was returned to a Orthodox Church in qbout 1912 when it once again expressed the Byzantine world of the 11th century.
Ancient Theatre of Ohrid is a remarkable Hellenistic-period of about 200 BC. Only the lower section of the theater survives today, making it difficult to ascertain its full capacity in its heyday.
King Samoil Fortress is a 10th century AD fortress at the top of Ohrid hill, 328 feet above Lake Ohrid. It was construxted on the site of a 4th century BC fortress constructed by Philip II, King of Macedonia (the father of Alexander the Great). Ohrid has been captured by Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Ottomans, each destroyed and rebuilt the fortress several times.
Where we stayed in Ohrid
We stayed here for $22 USD per night. Everything we needed was within walking distance and I have listed all of that below under restaurants, shopping, and services.
How we got to Ohrid from Saranda Albania
We took the bus from Saranda Albania to Ohrid North Macedonia for $40 Euros per person. You can pay in cash at the bus station in Saranda. There is a taxi stand in front of the Ohrid central bus station. The taxi to and our accommodations was 200 MKD ($2.67 USD) each way including luggage.
Restaurants, Bars, Markets, Services
Restaurants, Bars (Local currency in MKD, 56 MKD was $1 USD)
Irish Pub Dublin: Beer 0.5L 170, Vegetarian sandwich 180, big water 160, Chicken wing 310
Pod-Drum Ohrid: Beer 0.5L 140, Vegetarian Turli Tava 450, Grape leaf wrap 480
Le Petit Bistro Lihnidos: Alio pasta 350, beer small 150
Gurman: Bean stew 150, 3 meat soup 150, kebab piece 24, pepper 20
Markets and Services
Groceries: Large supermarket.
Villa Ristovski: Room rate 22 USD
Ohrid bus station: Buses arrive and depart to other cities.
Macedonian Telekom – Ohrid: 7 day sim card 50GB 499, 30days sim card 1299
Komercijalna Banka: Good ATM