Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Kumanovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Kumanovo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Bitola versus $811 in Kumanovo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Bitola versus $1,176 in Kumanovo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,790 in Bitola versus $1,540 in Kumanovo.

Living in Bitola is roughly 9% more expensive than Kumanovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 34% lower, Kumanovo 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 MKD 292

$5.62 MKD 298

-1.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.91 MKD 1,481

$28.54 MKD 1,514

-2.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 MKD 271

$5.01 MKD 266

2.00%

Cappuccino

$1.96 MKD 104

$1.58 MKD 84.0

24.05%

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

$1.72 MKD 91.2

$1.66 MKD 87.9

3.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 68.2

$1.15 MKD 60.8

12.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 MKD 117

$1.56 MKD 82.7

41.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MKD 147

$1.76 MKD 93.6

57.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 74.3

$1.25 MKD 66.1

12.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MKD 35.86

$0.67 MKD 35.35

1.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MKD 90.6

$1.76 MKD 93.4

-2.84%

Eggs

$2.04 MKD 108

$2.11 MKD 112

-3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 MKD 544

$7.18 MKD 381

42.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.28 MKD 386

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.75 MKD 730

$11.43 MKD 607

20.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 54.7

$0.64 MKD 33.76

60.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 75.8

$1.37 MKD 72.7

4.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 MKD 69.1

$1.27 MKD 67.1

2.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 86.7

$1.06 MKD 56.3

53.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.37

$0.94 MKD 49.81

-3.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 71.3

$0.77 MKD 40.97

74.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 30.88

$0.54 MKD 28.76

7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MKD 27.85

$0.52 MKD 27.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 MKD 159

$3.06 MKD 163

-1.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 MKD 315

$7.37 MKD 391

-19.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 MKD 49.99

$0.99 MKD 52.3

-5.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MKD 99.7

$1.09 MKD 57.7

72.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MKD 28.91

$0.68 MKD 36.04

-20.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.73 MKD 888

$19.80 MKD 1,050

-15.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 MKD 59.3

$1.11 MKD 58.9

0.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MKD 26.48

$0.53 MKD 28.32

-5.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 MKD 357

$6.76 MKD 359

-0.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.8

$1.47 MKD 78.1

-2.72%

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

$32.0K MKD 1.7M

0.13%

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

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

1.33%

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

$145 MKD 7,695

$120 MKD 6,387

20.49%

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

$17.86 MKD 948

$16.92 MKD 898

5.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.58 MKD 826

$15.39 MKD 816

1.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.59 MKD 1,305

$18.98 MKD 1,007

29.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 MKD 344

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MKD 257

$4.83 MKD 256

0.21%

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

$219 MKD 11.6K

$220 MKD 11.7K

-0.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,214 MKD 64.4K

$1,180 MKD 62.6K

2.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.2 MKD 4,042

$38.25 MKD 2,030

99.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.94 MKD 2,597

$47.45 MKD 2,518

3.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 MKD 4,013

$74.0 MKD 3,927

2.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 6,013

$46.41 MKD 2,463

144.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MKD 15.1K

$261 MKD 13.8K

9.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 MKD 10.5K

$207 MKD 11.0K

-4.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 MKD 31.4K

$559 MKD 29.7K

5.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 MKD 16.7K

$314 MKD 16.7K

0.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,726 MKD 91.6K

$1,652 MKD 87.7K

4.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,188 MKD 63.0K

$1,475 MKD 78.3K

-19.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$785 MKD 41.6K

$578 MKD 30.6K

35.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

77.50%

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

Last update for Bitola: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kumanovo: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Bitola and $261 in Kumanovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 36% 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 $29.00 in Kumanovo. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $183, with Kumanovo 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 Kumanovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bitola and Kumanovo differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($883 vs $811 including rent). Kumanovo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bitola pays 36% more on average, 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: $285 in Bitola versus $261 in Kumanovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Kumanovo – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $28.00 in Bitola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kumanovo 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 Kumanovo 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 Kumanovo 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.