Skopje: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Skopje is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia, with about 526,000 people according to the 2021 census, almost a quarter of the country's population. After the 1963 earthquake the city was rebuilt from scratch, so the Ottoman Old Bazaar, 1960s modernist blocks and the neoclassical facades of the Skopje 2014 project stand side by side. The economy rests on government, trade, services and a growing sector of software development and outsourcing for foreign clients.

Skopje suits remote workers and entrepreneurs who value low taxes and prices, proximity to Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria and a European time zone. It suits less those looking for advanced healthcare, clean winter air and a strong local job market.

Districts

• Centre - Macedonia Square, the Vardar embankment, cafés and offices, the most convenient and most expensive housing.
• Karpoš and Taftalidže - green residential districts west of the centre with good amenities, popular with families and foreigners.
• Aerodrom - new residential complexes and shopping centres, comfortable for daily life, rents below the centre.
• Čair and the Old Bazaar - historic quarters with mosques and markets, atmospheric but noisy.
• Vodno - the slopes of the mountain above the city with houses and villas, cleaner air and quieter, but a car is needed.
• Kisela Voda - a quiet residential district in the south with private houses and new buildings, rents below the centre, 10-15 minutes to the centre by car.

Cost of living

Skopje is one of the most affordable European capitals. A one-bedroom flat in the centre and the better districts usually rents for €250-350 a month, roughly $281-393, with a city median of about €280. Market produce, cafés and taxis are noticeably cheaper than in neighbouring European Union countries. The local currency, the denar, is pegged to the euro, so prices are stable, and large amounts and rents are often quoted in euros.

Taxes

North Macedonia has some of the lowest taxes in Europe. Personal income tax is a flat 10%, corporate tax 10% and VAT 18%. Employees also pay 28% in contributions: 18.8% for pension and disability, 7.5% for health, 1.2% for unemployment insurance and a 0.5% additional health contribution. For an entrepreneur with a company and dividends the overall burden is usually much lower than in European Union countries.

Practicalities

• Air quality. In winter Skopje is one of the most polluted cities in Europe: a basin, heating with wood and coal, and smog on still days. Many people use air purifiers or leave for the winter.
• Climate. Summers are hot, often above 35 degrees, and winters cold and foggy.
• Transport. There is no metro; buses and taxis serve the city, and taxis are cheap. The international airport is 20 kilometres from the centre, with flights mostly by low-cost airlines to European Union countries.
• Language. The official language is Macedonian, with Albanian recognised as a second official language. Young people speak good English, and many understand Serbian and Russian.

Travel and neighbours

One of Skopje's main advantages is its location. Thessaloniki and the Aegean are about 230 kilometres away, roughly three hours by car, and Lake Ohrid about 170 kilometres. Belgrade, Sofia and Pristina are also within a day's travel. Many residents spend summer on the Greek coast or at Ohrid and go to Thessaloniki for shopping and doctors.

Healthcare and schools

Public healthcare works, but equipment and service lag behind European Union neighbours, so foreigners usually use private clinics and buy insurance that covers treatment abroad. Skopje has international schools teaching in English, but the choice is small and places should be booked early.

Moving and legal status

North Macedonia is a European Union candidate, with accession negotiations opened in July 2022, but it is in neither the European Union nor Schengen. Residence permits are issued for work, one's own company, study or family: many foreigners register a company at minimal cost and obtain a permit as its manager. Entry rules for Russian citizens have changed in recent years, so we check the current procedure and the basis for residence before travel.

Company, housing and money

A company in North Macedonia is registered through the Central Registry's one-stop shop, usually within a few days, and this is the most common path for a foreigner to a residence permit. A 10% corporate tax and the same tax on dividends make a local company convenient for a small business with clients in the European Union.

Foreigners can buy flats; the deal is certified by a notary, and the seller pays the property transfer tax. A local bank account is opened with a passport and residence or company documents, and euro transfers within Europe go through without difficulty. Cash euros are easy to exchange at bureaux at rates close to the official one.

For living, people choose districts closer to Vodno and Karpoš: greener and with slightly cleaner winter air. In summer many residents leave for Ohrid or Greece, the city empties and life slows down.

Is Skopje worth considering for life

Pros: low taxes and prices, cheap rent, a European time zone, closeness to Greece and the sea, simple company registration. Cons: winter smog, weak healthcare, a small job market, no Schengen, and European Union accession is not yet complete. Skopje is good for remote work and a small low-cost business, but not as a way into Europe. Write in the chat and we will calculate the costs of a company and residence permit.