Today, I will share our estimated monthly cost to retire in Skopje 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.
I really enjoy Eastern Europe. During this tour of Eastern Europe, we conducted research with our feet on the ground in 15 countries. On this leg of the tour, we arrived in North Macedonia by bus from Albania.
Our first stop in North Macedonia was at Lake Ohrid, and then we took the bus to Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. I didn’t really know what to expect when arrived in Skopje because not many people have been talking about it.
So we found a neighborhood in Skopje that we really loved. Much of the video you are watching now, we took while walking around that neighborhood. By the time we left, we knew the area of Skopje where we would live if we retired here.
I have spent the last 17 years traveling all around the world finding the best places to retire overseas. North Macedonia is my 73rd country and Qiang’s 47th country with our feet on the ground.
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 Skopje North Macedonia
Rents: Today, I found this furnished apartment in Skopje advertised online for 400 Euros ($438 USD) per month. The ad shows that it is located in the central area of Skopje 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 $800 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 $438 USD per month for our lower rent estimate and $800 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 Skopje, 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 $100 USD per month. The utilities would cost more for the larger space, starting at around $160 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 $280 USD per month for groceries. Other expats are likely to spend more on imported groceries they miss from home spending $400 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 $240 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 in the expensive expat-style restaurants and less in local-style restaurants, so they would likely spend more like $300 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 Skopje because we stayed in a central area that was within walking distance of everything we needed. 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 300 MKD ($4.60 USD) each way. So we estimate about $30 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 $80 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 Skopje North Macedonia
|
Skopje North Macedonia |
Lower (USD) |
Middle (USD) |
|
Rent |
438 |
800 |
|
Utilities |
100 |
160 |
|
Groceries |
280 |
400 |
|
Restaurants |
240 |
300 |
|
Cell Data |
23 |
46 |
|
Laundry |
0 |
0 |
|
Drinking Water |
5 |
5 |
|
Internet |
16 |
16 |
|
Transportation |
20 |
80 |
|
Total |
$1122 |
$1807 |
|
|
|
|
|
Alcohol |
110 |
210 |
|
Optional Total |
$1232 |
$2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
Entertainment |
200 |
300 |
|
Optional Total |
$1432 |
$2317 |
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 September 2024.
I would estimate that 80 to 90% of overseas retirees will spend significantly more than our above-lower estimated budget. This is often because they do not need to live on so little because many have significantly more retirement resources available. 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 overseas anywhere in the world and you would like to share your cost of living on this channel, please email me at https://vagabondbuddha.com/contact/. I will probably invite you to share your story on this channel.
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 Skopje.
Walkability: High. We walked everywhere in Central Skopje. 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 here. Avoiding the expense of a car would be highly desirable to us.
Internet: High. The wifi in our Airbnb had about 40 Mbps down and 20 Mbps upload speeds, but we heard that we could get 50 Mbps for about $16 USD per month.
Food: High. There was a very large Farmer’s market about a 15-minute walk from our apartment. For fresh fruits and vegetables, we would shop in the Farmer’s Market. For other nonperishable foods, meats, and other items we would shop in any of the supermarkets. There is a grocery store in this shopping mall. Our webpage with links to all this information plus our favorite restaurants are at the first link in the first comment below this video.
Weather: Medium. At 240 meters (787 feet) above sea level, the weather is slightly cooler than other sea-level cities this far south in the Balkans. The coldest month in Skopje is in January with an average daily high of just 41F (5C) and average nightly lows of 25F (-4C). The hottest month in Skopje is July with an average daily high of 89F (31C) and nightly low of 60F (16C). The best time to visit Skopje 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: High. Skopje is a beautiful capital city with one of the most memorable central squares I have seen in Europe. It also has walking tours, historical tours, nightlife activities, restaurants, coffee shops, live music, festivals, and fairs.
Annual events in Skopje include the Story Festival, Aromanian National Day, Poetry Festival “Days of Naim”, MakFest, Manaki Brothers Film Festival, Skopje Jazz Festival, Skopje Marathon, Skopje Summer Festival, Struga Poetry Evenings and the Theatre Fest. Many other events such as visiting foreign artists are listed here.
Social Considerations: Medium. The Language spoken in Skopje is Macedonian, which uses the Cyrillic alphabet. English is generally spoken in the central tourist areas of Skopje, so you won’t have to worry too much about the language barrier until you get outside the central area. Skopje 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 Skopje 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 (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 Skopje is the capital of North Macedonia it has more medical resources and specialized doctors than you will find in other cities in the country. 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 81k Euros or $89k 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 who has used their services to successfully buy real estate in North Macedonia.
Skopje North Macedonia Retirement Desirability Score: Medium. Skopje is a charming and vibrant 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 described above, the window for snow on the ground is 4 months so I would need to fly south for those months. Otherwise, I would rate Skopje as high desirability.
What would it cost you to retire in Skopje
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 Skopje 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.
Nightlife Walking Tour
Short History of Skopje
After a long tug-of-war between the Byzantines and the Bulgarian Empire, Skopje was annexed by the Serbian Empire in the 13th Century AD. Later in the 14th Century, Skopje fell to the Ottoman Empire where it remained for about 500 years.
Later, after Ottoman rule, Skopje was brought into the Kindom of Serbia in 1912.
During WW1, Macedonia was ruled by Bulgaria but after WW1 it was ruled by Serbia. During WW2, Bulgaria again ruled Macedonia until it was annexed by Yugoslavia in 1945.
When communist Yugoslavia fell apart in 1991, Macedonia declared its status as an independent nation.
The earthquake of 1965 destroyed much of the city and the reconstruction included the modern architecture you see today. The 2000s brought revitalization of the city center including restoration of landmarks.
The center of Macedonia Square features a statue of Alexander the Great on horseback above a beautiful water fountain. The Square includes statues too numerous to discuss in a short tour, but Google any of the names and you will learn a few thousand years of Skopje’s history.
Skopje Old Town Walking Tour
Macedonia Square: is the central and most significant square in Skopje and is ground zero for a multitude of cultural, political, and other events. The Christmas festival is held here annually and the Declaration of Independence from Yugoslavia was celebrated here in 1991, and the beautiful new national flag was first displayed here. The square also includes statues of other prominent figures in Macedonia’s history including Goce Delčev and Dame Gruev who helped win Macedonia’s independence.
Mother Theresa Memorial House memorializes the life of the Catholic saint and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Skopje was where she resided from 1910 to 1928 before she moved to India to help the most needy people in the world. Her memorial includes relics from her life and is a tribute to the profound impact of her dedication to the life of the needy. Adjacent to her memorial is a feudal tower from the Middle Ages that withstood the ravages of the 1965 earthquake.
The Stone Bridge was constructed by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1451 and is considered one of the city’s most symbolic landmarks. It connects Macedonia Square to the Old Bazaar, bridging the past with the present. The bridge collapsed in a strong earthquake in 1555 but was rebuilt to its former glory the same year.
The Old Bazaar in Skopje’s Old Town is across the Stone Bridge from Macedonia Square and showcases the historical diversity of the cultures that remain in this ancient city. It is said to be the second-largest bazaar in Europe. It was a merchant center in the period of Ottoman and Skopje’s main center of commerce.
Ottoman architecture symbolizes the area but Byzantine era and modern era nuances are also evident which enhance the cultural integration of Skopje. The Bazaar area also includes the Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Museum of Modern Art.
Kale Castle also known as the Skopje Fortress watches over the city and is accessible from the Old Town providing a breathtaking of the city. You will see the fortress prominently featured on the coat of arms of Skopje and the city flag.
The fortress was originally constructed by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century AD on a site with evidence of human habitation dating back to 4000 BC. Much of the materials used to construct the fortress were taken from the ruins of the Roman city of Skupi, which was totally destroyed by an earthquake in 518 AD.
One of the most important historical events that took place in the fortress was when Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan moved the 0qqqcapital of the Serbian Empire to Skopje in the 14th century.
Most of the original castle remains in ruins now after the earthquake of 1963, but recent reconstruction hopes to return the castle to its former original glory.
Where we stayed in Skopje
We stayed here for $34 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 Skopje from Ohrid Macedonia
We took the bus from Ohrid North Macedonia to Skopje North Macedonia for $17 USD per person. You can pay in cash at the bus station in Ohrid. The BeeRide taxi app took us to our accommodations for 200 MKD ($2.67 USD) each way including luggage.
Restaurants, Bars, Markets, Services
Restaurants, Bars (Local currency in MKD, 56 MKD was $1 USD)
Matto Napoletano: Magarita pizza 560, limon pasta 470, cocktail 380, vegetarian 650
Paradise Food: Excellent vegan food at fair prices. Food by weight is 61 mkd per 100g, soup is 120, delicious food and cake
Amigos Mexican Restaurant & Bar: Vege burrito 420, grilled chicken with garlic sauce 430, small beer 150
Nadžak Restaurant: Greek salad 210, Chicken steak 170, beer 0.5L 150, water 120
Gurman: Baked bean soup 150, 3 meat soup 150, pepper 20, 5pc kebab 120
Кафана Тото: Bean soup 140, small size dip 350, pork rib 250
Dino’s Bakery Shop: Yellow cheese bread 80, sweet bread 50
Mamma Italiana – Centar: Magarita 490
Beer Garden: Live Music, energy, all ages, happening place, Skopo 0.5L 190
Bruklinski: Chill live Jazz place, Beer 0.4L 150
Short bus: Hidden live music place, beer big 170
Markets and Services
North Macedonia Ministry Affair: Check here to see the terms of entry into North Macedonia for your passport.
Ramstore Shopping Center: Super Market inside a Large Mall within walking distance from central Skopje.
Green market: The farmer’s market shown in the above video.
DM drug store: Beauty and hair products
Tinex supermarket: Another grocery store.