😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $875 in Bitola versus $826 in Kumanovo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,310 in Bitola versus $1,210 in Kumanovo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,746 in Bitola versus $1,594 in Kumanovo.
🌍Living in Bitola is roughly 6% more expensive than in Kumanovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola37% lower, Kumanovo40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bitola
Kumanovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.34MKD 282
$6.60MKD 349
-19.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.66MKD 1,514
$28.34MKD 1,497
1.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.37MKD 284
$6.82MKD 360
-21.26%
Cappuccino
$2.01MKD 106
$1.53MKD 80.7
31.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81MKD 95.7
$1.45MKD 76.5
24.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MKD 79.3
$1.12MKD 59.1
33.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22MKD 117
$1.58MKD 83.6
40.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70MKD 143
$1.79MKD 94.5
50.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bitola
Kumanovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41MKD 74.7
$1.28MKD 67.5
10.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72MKD 37.92
$0.71MKD 37.65
1.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MKD 90.3
$1.89MKD 99.7
-9.52%
Eggs
$2.05MKD 108
$2.44MKD 129
-15.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.26MKD 542
$8.53MKD 450
20.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38MKD 390
$7.64MKD 403
-3.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.43MKD 710
$11.86MKD 627
13.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07MKD 56.7
$1.02MKD 53.9
4.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MKD 77.1
$1.43MKD 75.6
2.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24MKD 65.7
$1.38MKD 73.1
-10.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61MKD 85.3
$1.86MKD 98.3
-13.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98MKD 51.7
$0.88MKD 46.48
11.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34MKD 70.9
$0.89MKD 46.87
50.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55MKD 29.08
$0.55MKD 28.88
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MKD 28.93
$0.62MKD 32.86
-11.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08MKD 163
$3.18MKD 168
-3.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.98MKD 316
$7.57MKD 400
-21.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03MKD 54.3
$1.06MKD 55.8
-2.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90MKD 100
$1.09MKD 57.5
74.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Bitola
Kumanovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MKD 28.72
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.81MKD 888
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11MKD 58.6
$1.11MKD 58.5
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64MKD 33.79
$0.69MKD 36.32
-7.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.75MKD 356
$6.08MKD 321
11.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MKD 78.6
$1.47MKD 77.5
1.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
$36.3KMKD 1.9M
-12.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KMKD 1.8M
$28.1KMKD 1.5M
23.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bitola
Kumanovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152MKD 8,007
$132MKD 6,963
14.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.63MKD 773
$17.90MKD 946
-18.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.36MKD 706
$20.04MKD 1,059
-33.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bitola
Kumanovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.77MKD 1,203
$28.55MKD 1,508
-20.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.72MKD 355
$19.16MKD 1,012
-64.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66MKD 246
$5.51MKD 291
-15.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bitola
Kumanovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$218MKD 11.5K
$380MKD 20.1K
-42.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,220MKD 64.5K
$5,636MKD 297.8K
-78.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bitola
Kumanovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MKD 4,009
$44.23MKD 2,337
71.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.87MKD 2,529
$21.08MKD 1,114
127.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.0MKD 3,912
$85.9MKD 4,536
-13.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113MKD 5,944
$49.42MKD 2,611
127.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bitola
Kumanovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$270MKD 14.3K
$247MKD 13.0K
9.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$198MKD 10.4K
$200MKD 10.6K
-1.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$406MKD 21.5K
$443MKD 23.4K
-8.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304MKD 16.0K
$251MKD 13.3K
20.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,728MKD 91.3K
$1,673MKD 88.4K
3.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,200MKD 63.4K
$1,474MKD 77.9K
-18.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bitola
Kumanovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$792MKD 41.8K
$587MKD 31.0K
34.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
4
61.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bitola: September 7, 2026
Last update for Kumanovo: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Bitola and $247 in Kumanovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bitola pays 35% 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 Bitola vs $28.00 in Kumanovo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $202 per month, with Kumanovo 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
Bitola vs Kumanovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bitola and in Kumanovo?
Bitola and Kumanovo differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($875 vs $826 including rent). Kumanovo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bitola or Kumanovo?
Average pay runs 35% higher in Bitola, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bitola and in Kumanovo?
Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Bitola versus $247 in Kumanovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bitola or Kumanovo?
All in, you'll spend $875 per month in Bitola versus $826 in Kumanovo – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Bitola compared to Kumanovo?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Bitola and Kumanovo?
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.
Is Bitola or Kumanovo safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Bitola or Kumanovo?
Expats usually find Kumanovo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.