Cost of Living Comparison Between Belem and Gostivar Cost of Living Comparison Between Belem and Gostivar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $772 in Belem versus $796 in Gostivar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,253 in Belem versus $1,194 in Gostivar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,734 in Belem versus $1,593 in Gostivar.

Living in Belem costs roughly 3% less than in Gostivar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Belem 42% lower, Gostivar 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 R$22.14
$5.14 MKD 271
-13.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.57 R$143
$23.16 MKD 1,221
23.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.16 R$30.81
$5.15 MKD 271
19.61%
Cappuccino
$1.59 R$7.98
$1.38 MKD 72.9
15.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 R$4.66
$1.15 MKD 60.4
-19.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 R$2.18
$1.10 MKD 57.8
-60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 R$8.03
$1.39 MKD 73.5
15.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 R$18.53
$1.92 MKD 101
92.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 R$5.80
$1.35 MKD 71.2
-14.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 R$10.51
$0.67 MKD 35.23
213.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.17
$1.49 MKD 78.3
-17.45%
Eggs
$2.02 R$10.10
$2.03 MKD 107
-0.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 R$53.3
$6.60 MKD 348
61.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 R$19.40
$5.58 MKD 294
-30.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.50 R$32.52
$13.60 MKD 717
-52.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 R$8.46
$1.03 MKD 54.4
64.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 R$8.31
$1.39 MKD 73.5
19.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.18
$1.26 MKD 66.4
-2.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 R$7.27
$1.59 MKD 83.8
-8.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 R$4.61
$0.93 MKD 48.82
-1.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 R$2.81
$0.78 MKD 40.88
-28.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 R$5.16
$0.55 MKD 28.96
87.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 R$6.70
$0.54 MKD 28.45
148.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38 R$11.91
$2.81 MKD 148
-15.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.65 R$48.30
$4.81 MKD 254
100.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 R$6.81
$0.98 MKD 51.8
38.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 R$22.18
$1.49 MKD 78.3
197.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 R$3.44
$0.69 MKD 36.36
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.60 R$108
$20.48 MKD 1,079
5.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 R$5.24
$0.91 MKD 47.92
15.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 R$3.58
$0.33 MKD 17.26
118.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.12 R$45.63
$6.51 MKD 343
40.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 R$5.40
$1.50 MKD 79.1
-28.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.2K R$80.8K
$31.5K MKD 1.7M
-48.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K R$144.7K
$46.3K MKD 2.4M
-37.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 R$551
$133 MKD 6,998
-17.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.40 R$72.0
$11.41 MKD 601
26.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.23 R$106
$15.53 MKD 819
36.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.77 R$104
$26.77 MKD 1,411
-22.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.71 R$109
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 R$31.64
$4.78 MKD 252
32.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$97.4 R$487
$216 MKD 11.4K
-54.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,133 R$15.7K
$1,182 MKD 62.3K
165.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.96 R$165
$37.45 MKD 1,974
-11.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.72 R$144
$38.17 MKD 2,012
-24.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 R$375
$75.8 MKD 3,997
-1.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.69 R$209
$111 MKD 5,838
-62.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R$2,213
$283 MKD 14.9K
56.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 R$928
$192 MKD 10.1K
-3.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$815 R$4,078
$553 MKD 29.1K
47.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$457 R$2,288
$309 MKD 16.3K
48.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,996 R$9,988
$1,657 MKD 87.3K
20.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,420 R$7,107
$1,289 MKD 67.9K
10.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$392 R$1,961
$888 MKD 46.8K
-55.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.2
6.5
87.69%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Belem: June 1, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Belem and $283 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 127% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $29.00 in Belem vs $23.00 in Gostivar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $180 per month, with Gostivar cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Belem vs Gostivar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gostivar cheaper than Belem?
Belem is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Belem or Gostivar?
On paper, Gostivar earns 127% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Belem and Gostivar?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Belem versus $283 in Gostivar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Belem runs roughly 5% less than in Gostivar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $97.4 in Belem versus $216 in Gostivar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 enough for either Belem or Gostivar?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Belem gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Belem or Gostivar?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Belem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Gostivar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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