Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Stip Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Stip

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $897 in Bitola versus $774 in Stip.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Bitola versus $1,153 in Stip.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in Bitola versus $1,532 in Stip.

Living in Bitola is roughly 16% more expensive than in Stip, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 33% lower, Stip 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 MKD 298

$5.80 MKD 311

-4.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.95 MKD 1,501

$15.99 MKD 858

74.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.17 MKD 277

$4.95 MKD 266

4.44%

Cappuccino

$1.97 MKD 106

$1.98 MKD 106

-0.51%

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

$1.80 MKD 96.4

$1.76 MKD 94.5

2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 MKD 65.4

$1.23 MKD 66.1

-0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 MKD 118

$2.29 MKD 123

-3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 MKD 147

$2.65 MKD 142

3.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 75.2

$1.33 MKD 71.2

5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 38.55

$0.67 MKD 36.09

7.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MKD 95.2

$1.12 MKD 60.0

58.04%

Eggs

$2.01 MKD 108

$2.03 MKD 109

-0.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 MKD 556

$10.33 MKD 555

0.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 MKD 382

$7.34 MKD 394

-3.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 MKD 733

$7.50 MKD 403

82.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 55.2

$0.90 MKD 48.53

14.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 77.2

$1.38 MKD 74.0

4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 MKD 67.0

$1.31 MKD 70.2

-4.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 MKD 86.6

$1.63 MKD 87.5

-1.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.74

$0.99 MKD 52.9

-8.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 71.8

$1.37 MKD 73.8

-2.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 MKD 29.24

$0.58 MKD 31.02

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 30.32

$0.41 MKD 22.01

36.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 MKD 164

$2.95 MKD 159

3.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.95 MKD 319

$7.60 MKD 408

-21.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 51.4

$0.99 MKD 53.1

-3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 MKD 97.7

$1.79 MKD 95.9

1.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MKD 29.29

$0.64 MKD 34.35

-14.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.81 MKD 902

$19.79 MKD 1,063

-15.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 59.8

$1.16 MKD 62.1

-4.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.17

$0.53 MKD 28.38

-7.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 MKD 348

$5.61 MKD 301

15.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 76.6

$1.49 MKD 80.0

-4.03%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$31.7K MKD 1.7M

0.44%

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

$33.3K MKD 1.8M

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

-3.23%

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

$145 MKD 7,775

$147 MKD 7,914

-1.76%

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

$17.32 MKD 930

$9.36 MKD 503

85.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.69 MKD 842

$15.45 MKD 829

1.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.19 MKD 1,299

$27.94 MKD 1,500

-13.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.47 MKD 347

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 MKD 256

$4.75 MKD 255

0.42%

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

$219 MKD 11.7K

$219 MKD 11.8K

-0.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,211 MKD 65.0K

$1,186 MKD 63.7K

2.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.3 MKD 4,203

$36.87 MKD 1,979

112.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.21 MKD 2,534

$31.76 MKD 1,705

48.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 MKD 3,978

$75.4 MKD 4,049

-1.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,979

$114 MKD 6,105

-2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MKD 15.3K

$209 MKD 11.2K

36.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 MKD 10.5K

$133 MKD 7,150

47.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$606 MKD 32.5K

$338 MKD 18.1K

79.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 MKD 16.8K

$203 MKD 10.9K

54.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,727 MKD 92.7K

$1,228 MKD 65.9K

40.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,181 MKD 63.4K

$988 MKD 53.0K

19.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 MKD 41.7K

$463 MKD 24.9K

67.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

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

Last update for Bitola: July 11, 2026

Last update for Stip: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Bitola and $209 in Stip. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 68% 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 $16.00 in Stip for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $186 per month, with Stip 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 Stip: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bitola and Stip differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($897 vs $774 including rent). Stip is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 68% 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: $285 in Bitola versus $209 in Stip. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Stip – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $28.00 in Bitola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Stip 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 Stip 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 Stip 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.