Moving to United States from Macedonia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Macedonia to United States? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Macedonia to United States, you would find that United States is 3.5 times more expensive than Macedonia overall. A MKD4,040,579 salary in Macedonia would need to be roughly $164,309 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Macedonia and United States.

What does your salary buy?

MKD4,040,579 $164,309

To maintain the same standard of living in United States

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.2 times more

Groceries

pay 2.7 times more

Transportation

pay 76.0% more

Housing

pay 4.7 times more

Childcare

pay 9.2 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.6 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MKD = 0.0186 USD (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.

Get free moving quotes to United States

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Macedonia to United States.

Moved in 2023
880 ↓ 8% vs 2022

people moved from Macedonia to United States · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United States?

Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to Macedonia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

MK
0.9
US
6.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MK
5.7
US
14.2

Macedonia performs better than United States across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MK
$1,808
US
$13,473
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MK
29.6
US
36.1

Macedonia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MK
62.0
US
14.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MK
4.0t
US
13.6t

Macedonia generally does better on environment, though United States leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MK
24.6
US
37.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MK
38.0%
US
28.2%

United States performs significantly better than Macedonia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MK
13.1%
US
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MK
$23,400
US
$73,600

United States 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

MK
76.8 yrs
US
80.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MK
7.3
US
5.2

United States performs significantly better than Macedonia across all family life metrics.

Data: Public Revenue Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Washington Rain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
66° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Skopje Washington
Jan–Mar 47°/30°F (9°/-1°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/49°F (23°/9°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/57°F (29°/14°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/35°F (12°/2°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C)
View all months
Month Skopje Washington
Jan 39°/26°F (4.0°/-3.6°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)
Feb 47°/30°F (8.4°/-1.3°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.6°/1.9°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)
Apr 65°/42°F (18.6°/5.4°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)
May 75°/50°F (23.9°/10.0°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)
Jun 81°/55°F (27.4°/13.0°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)
Jul 86°/59°F (29.8°/14.8°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)
Aug 86°/58°F (30.0°/14.6°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)
Sep 79°/53°F (26.1°/11.4°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)
Oct 67°/43°F (19.5°/6.3°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)
Nov 52°/35°F (11.2°/1.4°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)
Dec 42°/28°F (5.3°/-2.2°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)

Data: HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Macedonia passport

Macedonia passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Macedonia passport holders need a visa to enter United States.
United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Macedonia

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Macedonia without a visa.

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 United States than Macedonia?

On average United States is around 119% pricier than Macedonia, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to United States?

Budget about $41,077 for 3 months in United States (based on a MKD4,040,579 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from United States?

Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 37.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is United States safe for expats?

Macedonia performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Macedonia.

How is healthcare in United States compared to Macedonia?

Macedonia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 29.6 in Macedonia. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Macedonia: 74).

What's the weather like in United States compared to Macedonia?

The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 65°F in Skopje. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Skopje gets 19.8 in.

What language do they speak in United States?

The official language in United States is English. In Macedonia, the official language is Macedonian.

Share this

At a Glance

MK US
Population 2,130,936 337,341,954
Currency Macedonian Denar (MKD) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Macedonian English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +389 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911