North Macedonia cost of living analysis shows labor required for basic expenses

An analysis of the cost of living in North Macedonia reveals the significant amount of labor required to cover basic expenses based on July 2026 salary data. For an individual earning the minimum net salary of 26,046 denars, a single week of food for a four-person family requires approximately 38.8 working hours.

In comparison, those earning the average net salary of 48,499 denars would need roughly 20.8 working hours to cover the same weekly food costs. Other essential expenses also demand substantial labor: a 45-liter tank of gasoline requires 29.6 hours for minimum wage earners, while rent—based on models from the Trade Union Confederation of Macedonia (SSM)—requires 102.3 working hours for those on the minimum wage.

The calculations are based on a standard 40-hour work week, equating to approximately 173.33 hours per month.