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: $880 in Bitola versus $808 in Kumanovo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,333 in Bitola versus $1,202 in Kumanovo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,787 in Bitola versus $1,596 in Kumanovo.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 34% lower, Kumanovo 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.56 MKD 299

$5.79 MKD 312

-3.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.29 MKD 1,521

$27.75 MKD 1,492

1.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.14 MKD 277

$5.12 MKD 275

0.39%

Cappuccino

$1.91 MKD 103

$1.54 MKD 83.1

24.03%

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

$1.76 MKD 94.5

$1.62 MKD 87.1

8.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 MKD 67.9

$1.16 MKD 62.2

8.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 MKD 120

$1.58 MKD 85.1

41.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 MKD 147

$1.73 MKD 93.2

58.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 MKD 72.5

$1.26 MKD 67.6

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MKD 36.41

$0.62 MKD 33.25

9.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 MKD 94.7

$1.77 MKD 95.1

-0.56%

Eggs

$2.01 MKD 108

$2.09 MKD 112

-3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MKD 540

$7.18 MKD 386

39.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.39 MKD 398

$7.04 MKD 378

4.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 MKD 739

$11.30 MKD 608

21.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 57.3

$0.68 MKD 36.35

57.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 74.6

$1.40 MKD 75.2

-0.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 MKD 67.9

$1.31 MKD 70.7

-3.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MKD 87.2

$1.09 MKD 58.8

48.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 50.5

$0.91 MKD 48.88

3.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 72.4

$0.72 MKD 38.54

87.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 31.26

$0.53 MKD 28.58

9.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 30.17

$0.49 MKD 26.10

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 MKD 158

$2.99 MKD 161

-1.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.16 MKD 331

$7.24 MKD 390

-14.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 MKD 53.7

$1.00 MKD 54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 MKD 102

$1.04 MKD 55.9

81.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MKD 30.67

$0.67 MKD 36.15

-14.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.81 MKD 904

$20.32 MKD 1,093

-17.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MKD 62.4

$1.15 MKD 62.0

0.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.37

$0.49 MKD 26.57

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 MKD 350

$6.40 MKD 344

1.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 MKD 79.4

$1.49 MKD 79.9

-0.67%

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

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

$31.4K MKD 1.7M

2.18%

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

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

$34.4K MKD 1.9M

-2.65%

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

$143 MKD 7,702

$121 MKD 6,532

17.90%

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

$17.64 MKD 949

$16.67 MKD 897

5.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 MKD 827

$15.61 MKD 839

-1.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.06 MKD 1,294

$18.65 MKD 1,003

29.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.73 MKD 362

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 MKD 257

$4.76 MKD 256

0.21%

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

$221 MKD 11.9K

$222 MKD 12.0K

-0.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,221 MKD 65.6K

$1,183 MKD 63.6K

3.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 MKD 4,149

$37.65 MKD 2,024

104.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.66 MKD 2,563

$48.65 MKD 2,616

-2.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 MKD 4,058

$74.4 MKD 4,002

1.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,141

$46.07 MKD 2,477

147.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 MKD 15.1K

$260 MKD 14.0K

8.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 MKD 10.4K

$208 MKD 11.2K

-6.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$597 MKD 32.1K

$566 MKD 30.4K

5.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 MKD 16.9K

$314 MKD 16.9K

0.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,698 MKD 91.3K

$1,620 MKD 87.1K

4.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,179 MKD 63.4K

$1,481 MKD 79.6K

-20.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$762 MKD 41.0K

$581 MKD 31.3K

31.07%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kumanovo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Bitola and $260 in Kumanovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 31% 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 $28.00 in Kumanovo. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $181, 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 ($880 vs $808 including rent). Kumanovo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 31% 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: $282 in Bitola versus $260 in Kumanovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% 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 $28.00 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.