Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belem and Gostivar

For one person, living is cheaper in Gostivar: $835 a month against $945 in Belem, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Belem
🇧🇷 Brazil
$945
/mo nomad
Gostivar
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
$835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belem and in Gostivar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Belem and in Gostivar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $945 in Belem versus $835 in Gostivar.

  • Belem $945
  • Gostivar $835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Belem versus $1,262 in Gostivar.

  • Belem $1,433
  • Gostivar $1,262

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,921 in Belem versus $1,689 in Gostivar.

  • Belem $1,921
  • Gostivar $1,689

Living in Belem is roughly 13% more expensive than in Gostivar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Belem 30% lower, Gostivar 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.15 R$26.09
$6.25 MKD 341
-17.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.65 R$99.6
$26.92 MKD 1,468
-27.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 R$35.51
$5.81 MKD 317
20.65%
Cappuccino
$1.96 R$9.91
$1.39 MKD 75.9
41.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 R$5.37
$1.32 MKD 72.2
-19.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 R$2.62
$1.07 MKD 58.1
-51.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 R$8.03
$1.31 MKD 71.5
20.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 R$12.45
$1.77 MKD 96.3
38.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 R$6.78
$1.29 MKD 70.2
3.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 R$12.99
$0.75 MKD 40.84
241.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 R$6.95
$1.42 MKD 77.3
-3.52%
Eggs
$2.26 R$11.44
$2.46 MKD 134
-8.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.54 R$48.38
$6.49 MKD 354
47.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.41 R$22.37
$5.59 MKD 305
-21.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.49 R$37.99
$14.35 MKD 783
-47.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.43 R$12.30
$1.43 MKD 78.1
69.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 R$6.96
$1.39 MKD 75.8
-1.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 R$7.63
$1.35 MKD 73.8
11.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 R$8.39
$1.78 MKD 97.1
-7.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 R$5.34
$0.83 MKD 45.18
26.51%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 R$3.17
$0.70 MKD 38.06
-10.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 R$6.96
$0.64 MKD 34.74
114.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 R$7.22
$0.57 MKD 30.92
149.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 R$14.13
$2.76 MKD 150
1.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.87 R$50.0
$4.63 MKD 253
113.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 R$7.29
$0.88 MKD 47.86
63.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 R$24.90
$1.41 MKD 77.1
248.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 R$4.44
$0.74 MKD 40.29
18.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.52 R$175
$21.14 MKD 1,153
63.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 R$6.13
$0.75 MKD 40.97
61.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 R$6.15
$0.34 MKD 18.33
255.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.48 R$42.98
$7.75 MKD 423
9.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 R$6.41
$1.44 MKD 78.4
-11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K R$120.7K
$31.9K MKD 1.7M
-25.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K R$164.2K
$27.1K MKD 1.5M
19.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.2 R$498
$129 MKD 7,046
-23.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.49 R$58.3
$10.75 MKD 586
6.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.88 R$162
$18.87 MKD 1,029
68.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.12 R$112
$21.76 MKD 1,187
1.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.81 R$202
$18.73 MKD 1,022
112.55%
Cinema Ticket
$8.04 R$40.73
$7.10 MKD 387
13.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$115 R$582
$362 MKD 19.7K
-68.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,456 R$17.5K
$5,736 MKD 312.9K
-39.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.60 R$165
$36.91 MKD 2,014
-11.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86 R$232
$36.52 MKD 1,992
25.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.5 R$418
$102 MKD 5,589
-19.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6 R$332
$115 MKD 6,252
-42.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$538 R$2,730
$275 MKD 15.0K
96.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 R$1,458
$194 MKD 10.6K
48.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$882 R$4,469
$504 MKD 27.5K
75.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$523 R$2,650
$298 MKD 16.3K
75.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 R$10.2K
$1,525 MKD 83.2K
32.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,434 R$7,271
$1,133 MKD 61.8K
26.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belem
Gostivar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$424 R$2,151
$863 MKD 47.1K
-50.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
4.23
171.39%

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

Last update for Belem: October 11, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belem
$288
Gostivar
$194 32.6% $94
Groceries & Markets
Belem
$225
Gostivar
$186 17.4% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belem
$142
Gostivar
$159 12.1% $17
Eating Out
Belem
$105
Gostivar
$104 1% $1
Clothing & Footwear
Belem
$102
Gostivar
$131 28.3% $29
Getting Around
Belem
$45
Gostivar
$27 41.5% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Belem
$38
Gostivar
$36 5.9% $2.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $538 in Belem and $275 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 103% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Belem vs $27.00 in Gostivar. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $186, with Gostivar cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Belem
🇲🇰 Gostivar
🕒 Local time
06:28 6:28 AM
11:28 11:28 AM
5 h ahead of Belem
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,303,403
36,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MKD, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 54.55 MKD (100 MKD = 1.83 USD). 1 EUR = 61.33 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Belem Gostivar 8,430 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Belem
  • Gostivar

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Gostivar is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Belem or Gostivar?
On paper, salaries run 103% lower in Gostivar. 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: $538 in Belem versus $275 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 Gostivar runs roughly 63% less than in Belem. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $115 in Belem versus $362 in Gostivar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Belem or in Gostivar?
At $835 in Gostivar versus $945 in Belem, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gostivar but tight or insufficient in Belem. The gap between the two cities makes Gostivar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Belem or in 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 Gostivar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Belem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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