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: $875 in Bitola versus $853 in Stip.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,310 in Bitola versus $1,260 in Stip.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,746 in Bitola versus $1,667 in Stip.

Living in Bitola is roughly 3% more expensive than in Stip, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 37% lower, Stip 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 MKD 282

$7.53 MKD 398

-29.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.66 MKD 1,514

$23.64 MKD 1,249

21.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.37 MKD 284

$6.78 MKD 358

-20.80%

Cappuccino

$2.01 MKD 106

$1.86 MKD 98.2

8.06%

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

$1.81 MKD 95.7

$1.55 MKD 82.0

16.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 MKD 79.3

$1.16 MKD 61.4

29.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 MKD 117

$1.84 MKD 97.4

20.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 MKD 143

$2.92 MKD 154

-7.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 MKD 74.7

$1.27 MKD 67.2

11.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 37.92

$0.82 MKD 43.07

-12.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MKD 90.3

$1.16 MKD 61.5

47.41%

Eggs

$2.05 MKD 108

$2.59 MKD 137

-20.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.26 MKD 542

$8.69 MKD 459

18.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.38 MKD 390

$7.52 MKD 397

-1.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.43 MKD 710

$7.69 MKD 406

74.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 56.7

$0.93 MKD 49.25

15.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MKD 77.1

$1.43 MKD 75.3

2.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 MKD 65.7

$1.39 MKD 73.5

-10.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 MKD 85.3

$1.72 MKD 90.8

-6.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 51.7

$0.93 MKD 48.93

5.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 70.9

$0.89 MKD 46.77

50.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 MKD 29.08

$0.59 MKD 31.21

-6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 28.93

$0.42 MKD 22.08

30.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 MKD 163

$3.26 MKD 172

-5.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.98 MKD 316

$7.61 MKD 402

-21.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MKD 54.3

$1.09 MKD 57.4

-5.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 MKD 100

$1.53 MKD 81.0

24.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MKD 28.72

$0.65 MKD 34.21

-16.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.81 MKD 888

$22.86 MKD 1,208

-26.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 58.6

$1.14 MKD 60.3

-2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MKD 33.79

$0.68 MKD 35.94

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 MKD 356

$5.79 MKD 306

16.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 78.6

$1.52 MKD 80.5

-1.97%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$36.7K MKD 1.9M

-13.00%

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

$34.6K MKD 1.8M

$28.1K MKD 1.5M

23.15%

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

$152 MKD 8,007

$165 MKD 8,691

-7.88%

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

$14.63 MKD 773

$9.36 MKD 495

56.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.36 MKD 706

$17.13 MKD 905

-22.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.77 MKD 1,203

$28.13 MKD 1,486

-19.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.72 MKD 355

Cinema Ticket

$4.66 MKD 246

$6.64 MKD 351

-29.82%

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

$218 MKD 11.5K

$381 MKD 20.1K

-42.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,220 MKD 64.5K

$5,594 MKD 295.6K

-78.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MKD 4,009

$38.16 MKD 2,016

98.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.87 MKD 2,529

$31.71 MKD 1,675

50.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 MKD 3,912

$108 MKD 5,689

-31.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 5,944

$114 MKD 6,022

-1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 MKD 14.3K

$209 MKD 11.0K

29.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 MKD 10.4K

$131 MKD 6,901

51.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 MKD 21.5K

$341 MKD 18.0K

19.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 MKD 16.0K

$204 MKD 10.8K

48.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,728 MKD 91.3K

$1,246 MKD 65.9K

38.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 MKD 63.4K

$1,000 MKD 52.8K

20.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$792 MKD 41.8K

$472 MKD 24.9K

67.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

4.25

51.76%

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

Last update for Bitola: September 7, 2026

Last update for Stip: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 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: $29.00 in Bitola vs $24.00 in Stip for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 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 3% in total monthly costs ($875 vs $853 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: $270 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 $24.00 versus $29.00 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 3% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.