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: $899 in Bitola versus $894 in Sveti Nikole.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Bitola versus $1,352 in Sveti Nikole.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,794 in Bitola versus $1,811 in Sveti Nikole.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 35% lower, Sveti Nikole 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.58 MKD 294

$9.38 MKD 495

-40.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.09 MKD 1,481

$34.67 MKD 1,828

-18.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.32 MKD 281

$5.40 MKD 285

-1.48%

Cappuccino

$1.92 MKD 101

$1.75 MKD 92.1

9.71%

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

$1.80 MKD 94.9

$1.45 MKD 76.5

24.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MKD 76.5

$1.01 MKD 53.5

43.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 MKD 122

$1.58 MKD 83.3

46.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 MKD 138

$1.86 MKD 98.3

40.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 73.6

$1.40 MKD 74.1

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MKD 35.69

$0.56 MKD 29.58

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MKD 90.7

$1.20 MKD 63.3

43.33%

Eggs

$1.99 MKD 105

$2.55 MKD 135

-21.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 MKD 540

$9.66 MKD 509

6.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 MKD 382

$4.64 MKD 245

56.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 MKD 732

$12.40 MKD 654

11.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 MKD 55.1

$1.39 MKD 73.4

-24.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 74.1

$1.36 MKD 71.6

2.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 MKD 65.9

$1.35 MKD 71.4

-7.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 MKD 86.4

$1.78 MKD 93.8

-7.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 51.7

$0.79 MKD 41.50

24.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.5

$1.21 MKD 63.9

12.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 MKD 31.04

$0.83 MKD 43.89

-28.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 28.89

$0.41 MKD 21.58

34.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 MKD 163

$3.13 MKD 165

-0.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.97 MKD 315

$6.45 MKD 340

-7.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 50.6

$1.06 MKD 55.8

-9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 MKD 96.5

$1.47 MKD 77.7

24.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MKD 30.60

$0.78 MKD 41.20

-25.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.87 MKD 889

$25.00 MKD 1,318

-32.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MKD 60.7

$1.55 MKD 81.8

-25.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 MKD 33.07

$1.06 MKD 56.0

-40.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 MKD 345

$3.83 MKD 202

70.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 78.5

$1.44 MKD 76.1

3.47%

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

$32.4K MKD 1.7M

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

-4.12%

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

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

19.47%

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

$152 MKD 8,018

$152 MKD 8,017

0.03%

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

$14.72 MKD 776

$15.96 MKD 841

-7.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.25 MKD 699

$12.48 MKD 658

6.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.63 MKD 1,193

$23.62 MKD 1,245

-4.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 MKD 357

$16.78 MKD 885

-59.65%

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MKD 255

$5.21 MKD 275

-7.10%

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

$218 MKD 11.5K

$356 MKD 18.8K

-38.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,220 MKD 64.3K

$4,864 MKD 256.5K

-74.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.2 MKD 4,125

$77.0 MKD 4,062

1.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.84 MKD 2,575

$33.42 MKD 1,762

46.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 MKD 4,031

$83.6 MKD 4,410

-8.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MKD 6,074

$88.8 MKD 4,685

29.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 MKD 14.3K

$312 MKD 16.5K

-13.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 MKD 10.3K

$184 MKD 9,690

6.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$417 MKD 22.0K

$491 MKD 25.9K

-14.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 MKD 15.9K

$305 MKD 16.1K

-1.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,784 MKD 94.1K

$1,613 MKD 85.0K

10.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,181 MKD 62.3K

$1,204 MKD 63.5K

-1.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$801 MKD 42.2K

$569 MKD 30.0K

40.63%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Bitola and $312 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 $35.00 in Sveti Nikole. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $188, 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 ($899 vs $894 including rent). Sveti Nikole is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 41% 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: $271 in Bitola versus $312 in Sveti Nikole. 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 Sveti Nikole – a meal for two runs $35.00 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.