Moving to Macedonia from Israel

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Israel to Macedonia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Israel to Macedonia, you would find that Macedonia is 56.1% cheaper than Israel overall. A ₪227,786 salary in Israel would need to be roughly MKD1,866,101 in Macedonia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Macedonian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Israel to Macedonia.

What does your salary buy?

₪227,786 MKD1,866,101

To maintain the same standard of living in Macedonia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 58.4% less

Groceries

pay 47.0% less

Transportation

pay 43.6% less

Housing

pay 62.0% less

Childcare

pay 81.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 64.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ILS = 17.74 MKD (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Israel to Macedonia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IL
1.6
MK
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IL
4.2
MK
5.7

Israel generally does better on safety, though Macedonia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

IL
$4,033
MK
$1,808
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IL
37.1
MK
29.6

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Macedonia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IL
15.0
MK
62.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IL
5.8t
MK
4.0t

Israel generally does better on environment, though Macedonia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IL
29.4
MK
24.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IL
132.0%
MK
38.0%

Israel generally does better on infrastructure, though Macedonia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IL
3.4%
MK
13.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IL
$48,300
MK
$23,400

Israel generally does better on employment & economy, though Macedonia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IL
83.3 yrs
MK
76.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IL
3.6
MK
7.3

Israel generally does better on family life, though Macedonia leads in literacy rate.

Data: Israel Ministry of Finance Tax Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Jerusalem Rain: 21.1 in/yr (537 mm)
72° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Skopje Rain: 19.8 in/yr (504 mm)
65° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jerusalem Skopje
Jan–Mar 58°/46°F (15°/8°C) 47°/30°F (9°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/60°F (25°/15°C) 74°/49°F (23°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/67°F (29°/20°C) 84°/57°F (29°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/55°F (20°/13°C) 54°/35°F (12°/2°C)
View all months
Month Jerusalem Skopje
Jan 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C) 39°/26°F (4.0°/-3.6°C)
Feb 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C) 47°/30°F (8.4°/-1.3°C)
Mar 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C) 56°/35°F (13.6°/1.9°C)
Apr 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C) 65°/42°F (18.6°/5.4°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C) 75°/50°F (23.9°/10.0°C)
Jun 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C) 81°/55°F (27.4°/13.0°C)
Jul 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C) 86°/59°F (29.8°/14.8°C)
Aug 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C) 86°/58°F (30.0°/14.6°C)
Sep 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C) 79°/53°F (26.1°/11.4°C)
Oct 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C) 67°/43°F (19.5°/6.3°C)
Nov 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C) 52°/35°F (11.2°/1.4°C)
Dec 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C) 42°/28°F (5.3°/-2.2°C)

Data: Israel Meteorological Service Israel Meteorological Service, HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Israel and Macedonia. To live, work, or study long-term in Macedonia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Macedonia's immigration authority.

Israel passport

Israel passport holder visiting Macedonia

Visa Free
Israel passport holders can enter Macedonia without a visa.
Macedonia passport

Macedonia passport holder visiting Israel

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Macedonia passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Israel.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Macedonia than Israel?

Yes — Macedonia is on average about 54% cheaper than Israel. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Macedonia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly MKD466,525 in Macedonia on a ₪227,786 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Macedonia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Macedonia has 24.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Macedonia safe for expats?

Israel generally does better on safety, though Macedonia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Macedonia is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in Israel.

How is healthcare in Macedonia compared to Israel?

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Macedonia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Macedonia, compared to 37.1 in Israel. Macedonia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Israel: 85).

What's the weather like in Macedonia compared to Israel?

The average high temperature in Skopje is 65°F, compared to 72°F in Jerusalem. Skopje receives around 19.8 in of rainfall per year, while Jerusalem gets 21.1 in.

What language do they speak in Macedonia?

The official language in Macedonia is Macedonian. In Israel, the official languages are Arabic and Hebrew.

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At a Glance

IL MK
Population 8,914,885 2,130,936
Currency Israeli New Sheqel (₪) Macedonian Denar (MKD)
Languages Arabic, Hebrew Macedonian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +972 +389
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 100 112