EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-15
Latvia vs North Macedonia: taxes, salary and cost of living
The practical contrast between Latvia and North Macedonia becomes clearest when monthly income is tested against rent, food and mobility rather than viewed in isolation.
Latvia vs North Macedonia at a glance
| Indicator | Latvia | North Macedonia |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 21% | 18% |
| Income tax | 25.5-33% | 10% |
| Social contributions | 34.09% | 27% |
| Tax burden | 42.3% | 35.3% |
| Average monthly salary | €1,600 | €1,070 |
| Studio rent | €460 | €350 |
| Monthly food estimate | €280 | €220 |
| Gasoline | 1.61 €/L | 1.27 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.21 €/kWh | 0.11 €/kWh |
Salary advantage and purchasing power
Latvia records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €530, approximately 49.5% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Latvia ranks 21 of 27 for salary and North Macedonia ranks 25 of 27. Currency conversion and salary methodology can materially change a relocation budget.
Housing pressure and everyday spending
North Macedonia has the lower listed studio rent by €110, a 31.4% difference relative to the higher rent. Latvia sits 8 of 37 and North Macedonia 3 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. North Macedonia also has the lower food estimate, so the housing result is reinforced by groceries.
After subtracting only the listed rent and food estimates, the simplified remainder is €860 in Latvia and €500 in North Macedonia. This leaves €360 more in Latvia, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
VAT and personal tax context
North Macedonia has the lower listed tax burden by 7.0 percentage points. Standard VAT is 21% in Latvia versus 18% in North Macedonia. Neither measure is a substitute for an individual payroll simulation.
Driving and mobility costs
North Macedonia has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.34 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €17 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
Choosing by relocation scenario
A single professional comparing Latvia with North Macedonia should stress-test rent and take-home pay, while a family should give more weight to food, utilities and services that are not fully represented here. A company founder must separately review corporate and dividend taxation.
Where the comparison lands
Latvia produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while North Macedonia leads on listed rent. Your income source determines which advantage matters more.
Sources and data references
- PwC standard VAT rates
- PwC personal income tax rates
- PwC corporate income tax rates
- EuroCosts data scope and generation process
Explore Latvia comparisons · Explore North Macedonia comparisons