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: $897 in Bitola versus $885 in Sveti Nikole.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Bitola versus $1,299 in Sveti Nikole.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in Bitola versus $1,713 in Sveti Nikole.

Living in Bitola is roughly 1% more expensive than in 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

$5.54 MKD 297

$5.66 MKD 303

-2.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.95 MKD 1,499

$27.68 MKD 1,485

0.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.17 MKD 277

$5.13 MKD 275

0.78%

Cappuccino

$1.97 MKD 105

$1.71 MKD 91.9

15.20%

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

$1.80 MKD 96.4

$1.61 MKD 86.3

11.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 MKD 65.3

$1.23 MKD 66.2

-0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 MKD 118

$2.32 MKD 124

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 MKD 147

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 75.1

$1.25 MKD 66.8

12.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 38.52

$0.73 MKD 39.37

-1.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MKD 95.1

$1.69 MKD 90.7

4.73%

Eggs

$2.01 MKD 108

$2.04 MKD 110

-1.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 MKD 555

$8.56 MKD 459

20.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 MKD 382

$6.33 MKD 339

12.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 MKD 733

$13.78 MKD 739

-0.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 55.2

$1.07 MKD 57.4

-3.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 77.1

$1.37 MKD 73.6

5.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 MKD 67.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 MKD 86.5

$1.63 MKD 87.5

-1.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.71

$0.95 MKD 50.8

-4.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 71.7

$0.91 MKD 48.76

47.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 MKD 29.22

$0.61 MKD 32.50

-11.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 30.30

$0.54 MKD 28.75

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 MKD 164

$3.07 MKD 165

-0.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.95 MKD 319

$6.62 MKD 355

-10.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 51.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 MKD 97.7

$1.52 MKD 81.6

19.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MKD 29.27

$0.64 MKD 34.09

-14.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.81 MKD 902

$20.57 MKD 1,103

-18.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 59.8

$1.34 MKD 72.0

-17.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.15

$0.50 MKD 26.71

-2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 MKD 348

$6.69 MKD 359

-2.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 76.5

$1.42 MKD 76.1

0.70%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$31.7K MKD 1.7M

0.45%

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

$33.3K MKD 1.8M

$29.5K MKD 1.6M

12.78%

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

$145 MKD 7,769

$146 MKD 7,851

-1.04%

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

$17.32 MKD 929

$17.61 MKD 944

-1.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.69 MKD 842

$15.28 MKD 820

2.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.19 MKD 1,298

$26.21 MKD 1,406

-7.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.47 MKD 347

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 MKD 256

$4.58 MKD 246

4.15%

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

$219 MKD 11.7K

$223 MKD 12.0K

-2.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,211 MKD 65.0K

$1,208 MKD 64.8K

0.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.3 MKD 4,200

$76.2 MKD 4,085

2.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.21 MKD 2,532

$40.34 MKD 2,164

17.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 MKD 3,975

$76.0 MKD 4,079

-2.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,975

$113 MKD 6,050

-1.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MKD 15.3K

$280 MKD 15.0K

1.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 MKD 10.5K

$193 MKD 10.3K

1.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$606 MKD 32.5K

$573 MKD 30.7K

5.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 MKD 16.7K

$305 MKD 16.4K

2.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,727 MKD 92.6K

$1,602 MKD 85.9K

7.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,181 MKD 63.3K

$1,274 MKD 68.3K

-7.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 MKD 41.7K

$561 MKD 30.1K

38.44%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Bitola and $280 in Sveti Nikole. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 38% 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 $28.00 in Sveti Nikole. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $195, 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 ($897 vs $885 including rent). Sveti Nikole is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 38% 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 $280 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 $28.00 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.