Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Gevgelija Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Gevgelija

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $899 in Bitola versus $826 in Gevgelija.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Bitola versus $1,263 in Gevgelija.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,794 in Bitola versus $1,701 in Gevgelija.

Living in Bitola is roughly 9% more expensive than in Gevgelija, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 35% lower, Gevgelija 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.58 MKD 294

$7.54 MKD 398

-25.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.09 MKD 1,481

$33.18 MKD 1,749

-15.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.32 MKD 281

$5.71 MKD 301

-6.83%

Cappuccino

$1.92 MKD 101

$1.41 MKD 74.6

36.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 MKD 94.9

$0.99 MKD 52.4

81.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MKD 76.5

$0.67 MKD 35.34

116.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 MKD 122

$1.22 MKD 64.1

90.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 MKD 138

$3.12 MKD 164

-16.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 73.6

$1.30 MKD 68.3

7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MKD 35.69

$0.68 MKD 35.76

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MKD 90.7

$0.77 MKD 40.64

123.38%

Eggs

$1.99 MKD 105

$2.24 MKD 118

-11.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 MKD 540

$7.41 MKD 391

38.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 MKD 382

$5.63 MKD 297

28.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 MKD 732

$11.42 MKD 602

21.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 MKD 55.1

$1.14 MKD 60.4

-7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 74.1

$1.15 MKD 60.9

21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 MKD 65.9

$1.39 MKD 73.2

-10.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 MKD 86.4

$1.87 MKD 98.9

-12.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 51.7

$0.56 MKD 29.33

75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.5

$0.40 MKD 20.85

240.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 MKD 31.04

$0.39 MKD 20.76

51.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 28.89

$0.59 MKD 31.11

-6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 MKD 163

$2.38 MKD 126

30.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.97 MKD 315

$3.87 MKD 204

54.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 50.6

$1.10 MKD 57.8

-12.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 MKD 96.5

$1.48 MKD 78.0

23.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MKD 30.60

$0.72 MKD 37.98

-19.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.87 MKD 889

$27.11 MKD 1,429

-37.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MKD 60.7

$1.16 MKD 61.1

-0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 MKD 33.07

$0.68 MKD 35.90

-7.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 MKD 345

$5.81 MKD 306

12.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 78.5

$1.55 MKD 81.6

-3.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.4K MKD 1.7M

$36.4K MKD 1.9M

-10.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

$28.9K MKD 1.5M

15.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$152 MKD 8,018

$95.5 MKD 5,034

59.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.72 MKD 776

$19.01 MKD 1,002

-22.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.25 MKD 699

$19.87 MKD 1,048

-33.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.63 MKD 1,193

$24.40 MKD 1,287

-7.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 MKD 357

$17.34 MKD 914

-60.96%

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MKD 255

$5.74 MKD 303

-15.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$218 MKD 11.5K

$115 MKD 6,068

89.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,220 MKD 64.3K

$5,654 MKD 298.1K

-78.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.2 MKD 4,125

$90.8 MKD 4,787

-13.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.84 MKD 2,575

$39.26 MKD 2,070

24.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 MKD 4,031

$56.8 MKD 2,997

34.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MKD 6,074

$117 MKD 6,150

-1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 MKD 14.3K

$259 MKD 13.7K

4.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 MKD 10.3K

$202 MKD 10.6K

-2.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$417 MKD 22.0K

$396 MKD 20.9K

5.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 MKD 15.9K

$272 MKD 14.4K

10.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,784 MKD 94.1K

$1,528 MKD 80.6K

16.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,181 MKD 62.3K

$1,262 MKD 66.6K

-6.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$801 MKD 42.2K

$582 MKD 30.7K

37.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

4.25

51.76%

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

Last update for Bitola: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gevgelija: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Bitola and $259 in Gevgelija. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 38% 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: $28.00 in Bitola vs $33.00 in Gevgelija. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $171, with Gevgelija cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bitola vs Gevgelija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bitola and Gevgelija differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($899 vs $826 including rent). Gevgelija is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 38% higher in Bitola, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $271 in Bitola versus $259 in Gevgelija. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Gevgelija – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $28.00 in Bitola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Gevgelija gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Bitola and Gevgelija are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gevgelija gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.