Moving to Macedonia from Netherlands

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Netherlands to Macedonia, you would find that Macedonia is 56.9% cheaper than Netherlands overall. A €65,700 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly MKD1,882,678 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?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Netherlands and Macedonia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 MKD1,882,678

To maintain the same standard of living in Macedonia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 61.8% less

Groceries

pay 47.1% less

Transportation

pay 49.4% less

Housing

pay 69.8% less

Childcare

pay 85.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 58.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 61.61 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

The numbers behind daily life in Macedonia compared to Netherlands.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.8
MK
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
MK
5.7

Netherlands performs better than Macedonia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NL
$8,195
MK
$1,808
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
MK
29.6

Netherlands 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

NL
13.0
MK
62.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
MK
4.0t

Netherlands 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

NL
44.4
MK
24.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
MK
38.0%

Netherlands performs 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
MK
$23,400

Netherlands 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

NL
82.2 yrs
MK
76.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
MK
7.3

Netherlands performs better than Macedonia across all family life metrics.

Data: Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Skopje
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 47°/30°F (9°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 74°/49°F (23°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 84°/57°F (29°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 54°/35°F (12°/2°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Skopje
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 39°/26°F (4.0°/-3.6°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 47°/30°F (8.4°/-1.3°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 56°/35°F (13.6°/1.9°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 65°/42°F (18.6°/5.4°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 75°/50°F (23.9°/10.0°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 81°/55°F (27.4°/13.0°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 86°/59°F (29.8°/14.8°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 86°/58°F (30.0°/14.6°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 79°/53°F (26.1°/11.4°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 67°/43°F (19.5°/6.3°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 52°/35°F (11.2°/1.4°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 42°/28°F (5.3°/-2.2°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Netherlands 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.

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Macedonia

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

Macedonia passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Free
Macedonia passport holders can enter Netherlands 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 Macedonia than Netherlands?

On average Macedonia is about 53% less expensive than Netherlands, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Macedonia?

Budget about MKD470,670 for 3 months in Macedonia (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Macedonia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Macedonia: 24.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Macedonia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Macedonia safe for expats?

Netherlands performs better than Macedonia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Macedonia is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.

How is healthcare in Macedonia compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands 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 39.1 in Netherlands. Macedonia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Skopje is 65°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Skopje receives around 19.8 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Macedonia?

The official language in Macedonia is Macedonian. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

NL MK
Population 17,400,824 2,130,936
Currency Euro (€) Macedonian Denar (MKD)
Languages Dutch Macedonian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +31 +389
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112