Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Prilep Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Prilep

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Bitola versus $759 in Prilep.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Bitola versus $1,145 in Prilep.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,790 in Bitola versus $1,531 in Prilep.

Living in Bitola is roughly 16% more expensive than Prilep, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 34% lower, Prilep 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 MKD 292

$4.15 MKD 220

32.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.91 MKD 1,481

$27.80 MKD 1,475

0.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 MKD 271

$5.79 MKD 307

-11.74%

Cappuccino

$1.96 MKD 104

$1.53 MKD 81.4

28.10%

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

$1.72 MKD 91.2

$1.66 MKD 88.1

3.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 68.2

$1.23 MKD 65.1

4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 MKD 117

$1.57 MKD 83.2

40.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MKD 147

$2.04 MKD 108

35.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 74.3

$1.23 MKD 65.3

13.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MKD 35.86

$0.71 MKD 37.88

-4.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MKD 90.6

$1.60 MKD 84.7

6.87%

Eggs

$2.04 MKD 108

$2.13 MKD 113

-4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 MKD 544

$6.96 MKD 369

47.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.28 MKD 386

$5.80 MKD 308

25.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.75 MKD 730

$9.91 MKD 526

38.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 54.7

$0.93 MKD 49.26

10.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 75.8

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 MKD 69.1

$1.01 MKD 53.4

28.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 86.7

$1.54 MKD 81.6

5.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.37

$0.81 MKD 42.90

12.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 71.3

$0.94 MKD 49.68

42.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 30.88

$0.62 MKD 32.66

-6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MKD 27.85

$0.44 MKD 23.44

18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 MKD 159

$3.03 MKD 161

-0.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 MKD 315

$4.71 MKD 250

26.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 MKD 49.99

$0.96 MKD 51.0

-2.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MKD 99.7

$1.18 MKD 62.8

59.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MKD 28.91

$0.40 MKD 21.15

35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.73 MKD 888

$18.45 MKD 979

-9.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 MKD 59.3

$0.96 MKD 50.8

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MKD 26.48

$0.50 MKD 26.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 MKD 357

$6.50 MKD 345

3.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.8

$1.51 MKD 80.2

-5.30%

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

$32.0K MKD 1.7M

$33.2K MKD 1.8M

-3.61%

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

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

$30.1K MKD 1.6M

13.04%

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

$145 MKD 7,695

$129 MKD 6,823

12.78%

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

$17.86 MKD 948

$17.62 MKD 935

1.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.58 MKD 826

$14.31 MKD 760

8.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.59 MKD 1,305

$16.83 MKD 893

46.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 MKD 344

$5.79 MKD 307

12.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MKD 257

$5.30 MKD 281

-8.68%

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

$219 MKD 11.6K

$284 MKD 15.1K

-22.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,214 MKD 64.4K

$1,179 MKD 62.6K

2.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.2 MKD 4,042

$41.69 MKD 2,212

82.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.94 MKD 2,597

$37.38 MKD 1,983

30.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 MKD 4,013

$74.4 MKD 3,946

1.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 6,013

$93.8 MKD 4,979

20.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MKD 15.1K

$237 MKD 12.6K

20.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 MKD 10.5K

$174 MKD 9,229

13.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 MKD 31.4K

$511 MKD 27.1K

15.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 MKD 16.7K

$285 MKD 15.1K

10.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,726 MKD 91.6K

$1,059 MKD 56.2K

62.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,188 MKD 63.0K

$833 MKD 44.2K

42.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$785 MKD 41.6K

$607 MKD 32.2K

29.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

4.54

56.39%

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

Last update for Bitola: June 8, 2026

Last update for Prilep: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Bitola and $237 in Prilep. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 29% 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 Prilep. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $168, with Prilep 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 Prilep: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bitola and Prilep differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($883 vs $759 including rent). Prilep is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bitola pays 29% 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 $237 in Prilep. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Prilep – 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 $800 a month, though Prilep 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 Prilep 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 Prilep gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.