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North Macedonia: union minimum basket rises to 70,358 denars in October, 926 more than in September
Including rent for a 60-square-meter apartment, a family's minimum monthly expenses reach 85,733 denars, according to the SSM.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 20, 2026, 14:15 · Updated 12:21 · 1 min read
In brief
- The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) puts October's minimum basket at 70,358 denars.
- Food and beverages account for 26,170 denars, utilities for 6,379 and transportation for 5,468 denars.
- If rent for a 60 m² apartment is included, the total reaches 85,733 denars a month.
The cost of living in North Macedonia continues to rise. According to the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM), the union minimum basket for October stands at 70,358 denars, 926 denars more than in September, when it was 69,432 denars. The monthly increase is about 1.3%.
The largest share of the basket goes to food and beverages, for which a family needs 26,170 denars a month. Utility bills are estimated at 6,379 denars, and transportation at 5,468 denars.
The SSM also calculates a version that includes rent for a 60-square-meter apartment. In that case, a family's minimum monthly expenses rise to 85,733 denars.
The union minimum basket is used by trade unions as a benchmark for measuring what a family's basic living costs and as an argument in the wage debate. The new figures show that price pressure on household budgets has not eased in the fall.
