Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Oman: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
Best approach in North Macedonia is to exchange a token amount at the airport, then rely on ATMs from banks like Stopanska or Komercijalna. Budget MKD 2,000-3,000 per day depending on activities. Withdraw larger sums at once to reduce ATM fees. Keep smaller bills for taxis, cafés, and buses. Airport counters are convenient but overpriced, so avoid using them for big exchanges.
The airport exchange in Skopje was disappointing. I exchanged €100 and later realized I’d lost about MKD 700 compared to what I would have gotten from an ATM. That’s basically the cost of two nice meals. I had budgeted MKD 2,000 per day, so starting off with a loss made the trip feel tighter. ATMs in town clearly offered much better rates. Don’t depend on airport desks for anything beyond emergency cash.
I swapped €20 at Skopje Airport for taxi fare and later withdrew cash from a Komercijalna Banka ATM in the city. The difference was clear - I got far more denars. Meals cost me about MKD 500-700, and a bus ticket to Ohrid was MKD 600. My daily budget of MKD 2,500 stretched much better with ATM rates than with the airport counter’s inflated ones.
In North Macedonia, ATMs typically provide a better rate than airport exchange desks. Skopje Airport counters often have inflated rates, while ATMs from Komercijalna Banka or Stopanska Banka are closer to market. If you’re budgeting MKD 2,000-3,000 daily for meals, buses, and visits to Lake Ohrid or Matka Canyon, an ATM withdrawal is usually the cheaper and easier choice. The airport exchange should be reserved for small amounts only.