Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Strumica Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Strumica

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Bitola versus $875 in Strumica.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Bitola versus $1,251 in Strumica.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,790 in Bitola versus $1,627 in Strumica.

Living in Bitola is roughly 1% more expensive than Strumica, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 34% lower, Strumica 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 MKD 292

$3.71 MKD 197

48.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.91 MKD 1,481

$28.68 MKD 1,522

-2.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 MKD 271

$4.97 MKD 264

2.82%

Cappuccino

$1.96 MKD 104

$1.67 MKD 88.8

17.37%

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

$1.72 MKD 91.2

$1.46 MKD 77.2

17.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 68.2

$1.12 MKD 59.3

15.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 MKD 117

$1.84 MKD 97.6

19.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MKD 147

$2.18 MKD 116

27.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 74.3

$1.33 MKD 70.6

5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MKD 35.86

$0.72 MKD 38.31

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MKD 90.6

$1.77 MKD 93.9

-3.39%

Eggs

$2.04 MKD 108

$2.08 MKD 111

-1.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 MKD 544

$10.36 MKD 550

-1.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.28 MKD 386

$6.37 MKD 338

14.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.75 MKD 730

$10.38 MKD 551

32.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 54.7

$0.68 MKD 36.07

51.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 75.8

$1.37 MKD 72.7

4.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 MKD 69.1

$1.23 MKD 65.3

5.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 86.7

$1.61 MKD 85.5

1.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.37

$0.92 MKD 48.86

-1.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 71.3

$0.84 MKD 44.56

59.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 30.88

$0.58 MKD 30.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MKD 27.85

$0.54 MKD 28.60

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 MKD 159

$2.78 MKD 148

7.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 MKD 315

$5.51 MKD 293

7.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 MKD 49.99

$0.98 MKD 52.0

-4.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MKD 99.7

$1.20 MKD 63.9

56.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MKD 28.91

$0.73 MKD 38.56

-26.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.73 MKD 888

$20.59 MKD 1,092

-18.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 MKD 59.3

$1.10 MKD 58.3

1.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MKD 26.48

$0.49 MKD 26.24

2.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 MKD 357

$6.75 MKD 358

-0.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.8

$1.50 MKD 79.5

-4.67%

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

$32.0K MKD 1.7M

$31.5K MKD 1.7M

1.59%

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

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

$33.3K MKD 1.8M

2.06%

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

$145 MKD 7,695

$143 MKD 7,586

1.45%

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

$17.86 MKD 948

$13.40 MKD 711

33.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.58 MKD 826

$15.59 MKD 827

-0.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.59 MKD 1,305

$20.32 MKD 1,078

21.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 MKD 344

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MKD 257

$4.68 MKD 248

3.42%

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

$219 MKD 11.6K

$223 MKD 11.8K

-1.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,214 MKD 64.4K

$1,207 MKD 64.1K

0.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.2 MKD 4,042

$76.1 MKD 4,036

0.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.94 MKD 2,597

$48.25 MKD 2,560

1.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 MKD 4,013

$73.9 MKD 3,922

2.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 6,013

$93.0 MKD 4,935

21.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MKD 15.1K

$324 MKD 17.2K

-12.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 MKD 10.5K

$244 MKD 13.0K

-18.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 MKD 31.4K

$511 MKD 27.1K

15.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 MKD 16.7K

$300 MKD 15.9K

5.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,726 MKD 91.6K

$1,478 MKD 78.4K

16.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,188 MKD 63.0K

$1,004 MKD 53.3K

18.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$785 MKD 41.6K

$664 MKD 35.3K

18.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

77.50%

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

Last update for Bitola: June 8, 2026

Last update for Strumica: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Bitola and $324 in Strumica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 18% 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 $29.00 in Strumica. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $186, with Strumica 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 Strumica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bitola and Strumica differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($883 vs $875 including rent). Strumica is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bitola pays 18% 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 $324 in Strumica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Strumica – a meal for two runs $29.00 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 Strumica 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 Strumica 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 Strumica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.