Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Sveti Nikole Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Sveti Nikole

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $892 in Bitola versus $887 in Sveti Nikole.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,322 in Bitola versus $1,323 in Sveti Nikole.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,751 in Bitola versus $1,759 in Sveti Nikole.

Living in Bitola is roughly 1% more expensive than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 33% lower, Sveti Nikole 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.80 MKD 306

$5.74 MKD 302

1.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.96 MKD 1,473

$28.63 MKD 1,509

-2.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.21 MKD 275

Cappuccino

$1.96 MKD 103

$1.73 MKD 91.4

13.29%

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

$1.81 MKD 95.3

$1.67 MKD 88.3

8.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 MKD 65.2

$1.26 MKD 66.5

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 MKD 121

$2.20 MKD 116

4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 MKD 142

$2.69 MKD 142

0.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 MKD 74.3

$1.29 MKD 68.1

9.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 MKD 35.07

$0.71 MKD 37.59

-5.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MKD 91.0

$1.72 MKD 90.7

0.58%

Eggs

$2.10 MKD 111

$2.08 MKD 110

0.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 MKD 540

$8.30 MKD 438

23.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.26 MKD 383

$6.47 MKD 341

12.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.55 MKD 714

$13.33 MKD 703

1.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MKD 53.8

$1.07 MKD 56.5

-4.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 73.6

$1.45 MKD 76.2

-3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 MKD 66.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 MKD 86.6

$1.58 MKD 83.1

3.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 51.8

$0.94 MKD 49.70

4.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 70.4

$0.99 MKD 52.3

35.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 MKD 28.07

$0.62 MKD 32.51

-14.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MKD 27.61

$0.53 MKD 27.75

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 MKD 157

$3.06 MKD 161

-2.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 MKD 321

$6.48 MKD 341

-6.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 MKD 49.84

$1.01 MKD 53.3

-5.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MKD 98.9

$1.46 MKD 76.8

28.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 MKD 30.97

$0.65 MKD 34.20

-9.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.92 MKD 892

$20.07 MKD 1,058

-15.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 58.3

$1.29 MKD 68.2

-13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 MKD 27.44

$0.49 MKD 25.87

6.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 MKD 356

$6.44 MKD 339

4.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 MKD 77.6

$1.43 MKD 75.5

2.80%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

-0.73%

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

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

12.87%

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

$144 MKD 7,588

$145 MKD 7,619

-0.41%

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

$17.79 MKD 938

$17.35 MKD 915

2.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.47 MKD 815

$15.43 MKD 813

0.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.09 MKD 1,269

$26.73 MKD 1,409

-9.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.47 MKD 341

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 MKD 244

$4.60 MKD 243

0.65%

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

$217 MKD 11.4K

$215 MKD 11.4K

0.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,193 MKD 62.9K

$1,226 MKD 64.6K

-2.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.8 MKD 3,995

$76.1 MKD 4,009

-0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.75 MKD 2,516

$39.12 MKD 2,061

22.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 MKD 3,939

$74.4 MKD 3,922

0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,828

$111 MKD 5,860

-0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 MKD 15.2K

$281 MKD 14.8K

2.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 MKD 10.2K

$198 MKD 10.4K

-2.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 MKD 30.8K

$563 MKD 29.7K

3.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 MKD 16.1K

$309 MKD 16.3K

-1.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,732 MKD 91.3K

$1,644 MKD 86.6K

5.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,183 MKD 62.3K

$1,276 MKD 67.3K

-7.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$799 MKD 42.1K

$568 MKD 29.9K

40.59%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $288 in Bitola and $281 in Sveti Nikole. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 41% 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 Sveti Nikole. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $194, with Sveti Nikole 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 Sveti Nikole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bitola and Sveti Nikole differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($892 vs $887 including rent). Sveti Nikole is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bitola pays 41% 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: $288 in Bitola versus $281 in Sveti Nikole. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Sveti Nikole – 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 Sveti Nikole 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 Sveti Nikole 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 Sveti Nikole 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.