Fuel costs across borders
In his comments to the Russian sports website, Mitreski described everyday necessities as increasingly expensive and said the difficulty of affording them extends beyond his homeland.
He cited gasoline prices of €2.50 to €3 per liter in parts of Europe, compared with €2.20 to €2.30 in neighboring Greece and almost €2 in North Macedonia. He also said grocery costs in North Macedonia continue to rise.
North Macedonia regulates fuel prices: the government sets maximum retail prices and revises them regularly, according to fuel-price tracker nakordoni.eu. The tracker says fuel in the country is generally less expensive than in Greece and Bulgaria.
Prices and wages in North Macedonia
World Bank Consumer Price Index data cited by Al Jazeera Balkans in an October 7, 2026, report put North Macedonia's cumulative inflation between 2020 and mid-2026 at 41.5%. That was among the largest cost-of-living shocks in the Western Balkans. Over those six years, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by more than 48%, while transport and fuel costs rose 35%.
Wages also increased during that period. Al Jazeera Balkans reported that the country's average net salary went from about €460 in 2020 to €786 in 2026, a nominal gain of roughly 71%. Even so, the minimum consumer basket calculated by the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia for June 2026 cost about €1,113, well above the average wage.
More recent annual inflation figures show differences between neighboring countries. National statistics reported by BalkanView on October 10, 2026, put North Macedonia's September inflation rate at 2.7%, compared with 5% in Greece. Energy costs drove Greece's sharper increase: natural gas prices were up 55.2% from a year earlier, heating oil 53.2%, diesel 38.8% and gasoline 22.5%.
Inflation elsewhere in Europe
The broader European figures also show rising prices. Citing Eurostat data on October 21, 2026, Euronews reported an estimated euro area annual inflation rate of 3.8% for September, up from 3.2% in August. Energy inflation reached 18.8%.
That report also cited a European Commission survey in which 35% of EU citizens said they worried about being able to put food on the table.
A career spanning North Macedonia and Moscow
Mitreski began his senior playing career in the Balkans and went on to spend a decade representing North Macedonia. Born in 1979, the central defender made 70 appearances for the national team and scored one goal, according to football almanac 33legends.com. His clubs included Spartak Moscow, FC Energie Cottbus and Neftchi Baku PFC.
He joined Spartak in 2001 and became a first-team regular during four seasons with the Moscow club, from 2001 through 2004. He helped Spartak win the Russian Cup in 2003.
Sport24 has also recently carried comments about life in the region from Rodina player Yordy Reyna, who said people in Moscow treat him kindly and respectfully.
