😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $892 in Bitola versus $889 in Strumica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,346 in Bitola versus $1,282 in Strumica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,800 in Bitola versus $1,674 in Strumica.
😐Monthly costs are close between Bitola and Strumica; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola33% lower, Strumica34% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Bitola
Strumica
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.49MKD 290
$3.65MKD 193
50.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.66MKD 1,511
$28.37MKD 1,496
1.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.13MKD 271
$4.99MKD 263
2.81%
Cappuccino
$1.96MKD 104
$1.66MKD 87.6
18.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79MKD 94.4
$1.52MKD 80.3
17.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 65.0
$1.15MKD 60.7
6.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29MKD 121
$1.91MKD 101
19.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67MKD 141
$2.21MKD 116
20.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bitola
Strumica
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41MKD 74.2
$1.34MKD 70.5
5.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68MKD 36.10
$0.73MKD 38.32
-6.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MKD 90.2
$1.79MKD 94.2
-4.47%
Eggs
$2.05MKD 108
$2.04MKD 108
0.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.40MKD 548
$10.14MKD 535
2.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38MKD 389
$6.27MKD 330
17.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.35MKD 704
$10.53MKD 556
26.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02MKD 53.9
$0.64MKD 33.64
59.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MKD 72.6
$1.45MKD 76.5
-4.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27MKD 66.9
$1.20MKD 63.1
5.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55MKD 81.9
$1.65MKD 86.8
-6.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97MKD 51.3
$0.94MKD 49.71
3.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34MKD 70.6
$0.89MKD 46.71
50.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57MKD 30.22
$0.57MKD 30.19
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MKD 28.22
$0.57MKD 30.01
-5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04MKD 160
$2.76MKD 145
10.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03MKD 318
$5.56MKD 293
8.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92MKD 48.78
$0.91MKD 48.11
1.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79MKD 94.5
$1.20MKD 63.3
49.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Bitola
Strumica
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MKD 28.70
$0.73MKD 38.39
-26.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.24MKD 909
$19.98MKD 1,053
-13.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10MKD 57.9
$1.16MKD 61.0
-5.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52MKD 27.44
$0.49MKD 25.64
6.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.67MKD 352
$6.69MKD 353
-0.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 77.6
$1.43MKD 75.2
2.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KMKD 1.7M
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
-0.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KMKD 1.8M
$33.4KMKD 1.8M
-0.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bitola
Strumica
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148MKD 7,782
$146MKD 7,703
1.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.55MKD 925
$13.29MKD 701
32.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.32MKD 808
$15.59MKD 822
-1.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bitola
Strumica
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.06MKD 1,269
$20.90MKD 1,102
15.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.70MKD 353
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.77MKD 252
$4.74MKD 250
0.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bitola
Strumica
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216MKD 11.4K
$219MKD 11.6K
-1.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,195MKD 63.0K
$1,195MKD 63.0K
-0.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bitola
Strumica
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.2MKD 4,015
$77.7MKD 4,099
-2.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.40MKD 2,552
$47.91MKD 2,526
1.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5MKD 4,032
$74.4MKD 3,921
2.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112MKD 5,903
$93.1MKD 4,911
20.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bitola
Strumica
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284MKD 15.0K
$320MKD 16.9K
-11.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$198MKD 10.4K
$244MKD 12.9K
-18.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592MKD 31.2K
$496MKD 26.1K
19.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313MKD 16.5K
$305MKD 16.1K
2.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,796MKD 94.7K
$1,546MKD 81.5K
16.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,203MKD 63.4K
$1,009MKD 53.2K
19.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bitola
Strumica
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$788MKD 41.6K
$659MKD 34.7K
19.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
4
77.50%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Bitola: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Strumica: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Bitola and $320 in Strumica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bitola pays 20% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Bitola vs $28.00 in Strumica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $186 per month, with Strumica cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Bitola vs Strumica: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city pays better: Bitola or Strumica?
Bitola pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bitola and Strumica?
Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Bitola versus $320 in Strumica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Bitola and Strumica?
A monthly transit pass in Strumica runs roughly 16% less than in Bitola. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $800 go in Bitola vs Strumica?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Bitola and Strumica?
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.
Is Bitola or Strumica safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Bitola and Strumica?
It comes down to priorities – Strumica wins on affordability, Bitola on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.