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: $880 in Bitola versus $745 in Prilep.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,333 in Bitola versus $1,134 in Prilep.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,787 in Bitola versus $1,523 in Prilep.

Living in Bitola is roughly 18% more expensive than in Prilep, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.56 MKD 299

$4.03 MKD 217

37.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.29 MKD 1,521

$27.76 MKD 1,493

1.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.14 MKD 277

$5.74 MKD 308

-10.45%

Cappuccino

$1.91 MKD 103

$1.46 MKD 78.6

30.82%

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

$1.76 MKD 94.5

$1.68 MKD 90.2

4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 MKD 67.9

$1.29 MKD 69.1

-2.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 MKD 120

$1.56 MKD 84.1

42.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 MKD 147

$2.06 MKD 111

33.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 MKD 72.5

$1.23 MKD 65.9

9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MKD 36.41

$0.74 MKD 39.93

-8.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 MKD 94.7

$1.59 MKD 85.7

10.69%

Eggs

$2.01 MKD 108

$2.11 MKD 114

-4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MKD 540

$7.18 MKD 386

39.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.39 MKD 398

$5.78 MKD 311

27.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 MKD 739

$9.90 MKD 532

38.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 57.3

$0.86 MKD 46.17

24.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 74.6

$1.36 MKD 72.9

2.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 MKD 67.9

$0.97 MKD 52.3

29.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MKD 87.2

$1.46 MKD 78.8

10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 50.5

$0.89 MKD 47.76

5.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 72.4

$0.96 MKD 51.8

40.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 31.26

$0.61 MKD 32.54

-4.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 30.17

$0.44 MKD 23.66

27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 MKD 158

$3.07 MKD 165

-4.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.16 MKD 331

$4.75 MKD 256

29.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 MKD 53.7

$0.91 MKD 48.89

9.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 MKD 102

$1.22 MKD 65.9

54.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MKD 30.67

$0.37 MKD 19.78

54.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.81 MKD 904

$18.81 MKD 1,012

-10.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MKD 62.4

$0.96 MKD 51.5

20.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.37

$0.49 MKD 26.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 MKD 350

$6.43 MKD 346

1.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 MKD 79.4

$1.44 MKD 77.7

2.78%

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

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

-6.72%

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

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

13.18%

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

$143 MKD 7,702

$128 MKD 6,888

11.82%

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

$17.64 MKD 949

$17.38 MKD 934

1.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 MKD 827

$14.24 MKD 766

7.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.06 MKD 1,294

$17.21 MKD 925

39.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.73 MKD 362

$5.53 MKD 297

21.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 MKD 257

$5.28 MKD 284

-9.66%

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

$221 MKD 11.9K

$281 MKD 15.1K

-21.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,221 MKD 65.6K

$1,212 MKD 65.2K

0.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 MKD 4,149

$42.44 MKD 2,282

81.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.66 MKD 2,563

$37.97 MKD 2,042

25.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 MKD 4,058

$74.7 MKD 4,018

0.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,141

$95.1 MKD 5,112

20.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 MKD 15.1K

$237 MKD 12.8K

18.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 MKD 10.4K

$173 MKD 9,301

12.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$597 MKD 32.1K

$512 MKD 27.5K

16.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 MKD 16.9K

$281 MKD 15.1K

11.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,698 MKD 91.3K

$1,044 MKD 56.1K

62.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,179 MKD 63.4K

$827 MKD 44.5K

42.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$762 MKD 41.0K

$609 MKD 32.7K

25.14%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Prilep: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Bitola and $237 in Prilep. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 25% 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 $167, 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 18% in total monthly costs ($880 vs $745 including rent). Prilep is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 25% 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 $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 18% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.