Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Tetovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Tetovo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Bitola versus $1,000 in Tetovo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Bitola versus $1,479 in Tetovo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,790 in Bitola versus $1,958 in Tetovo.

Living in Bitola costs roughly 12% less than in Tetovo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 34% lower, Tetovo 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bitola
Tetovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.51 MKD 292
$5.70 MKD 303
-3.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.91 MKD 1,481
$25.85 MKD 1,372
7.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.11 MKD 271
$4.93 MKD 262
3.65%
Cappuccino
$1.96 MKD 104
$1.53 MKD 81.3
28.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 MKD 91.2
$1.49 MKD 78.8
15.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 MKD 68.2
$1.03 MKD 54.6
25.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.20 MKD 117
$2.27 MKD 121
-3.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MKD 147
$2.10 MKD 112
31.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bitola
Tetovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MKD 74.3
$1.24 MKD 65.9
12.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 MKD 35.86
$0.69 MKD 36.76
-1.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MKD 90.6
$1.37 MKD 72.6
24.82%
Eggs
$2.04 MKD 108
$2.04 MKD 108
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.25 MKD 544
$7.53 MKD 400
36.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.28 MKD 386
$5.37 MKD 285
35.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.75 MKD 730
$10.45 MKD 555
31.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 MKD 54.7
$1.03 MKD 54.7
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MKD 75.8
$1.42 MKD 75.5
0.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 MKD 69.1
$1.01 MKD 53.7
28.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 MKD 86.7
$1.64 MKD 87.0
-0.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 MKD 48.37
$0.98 MKD 51.8
-7.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 MKD 71.3
$0.77 MKD 41.07
74.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 MKD 30.88
$0.86 MKD 45.64
-32.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 MKD 27.85
$0.52 MKD 27.62
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 MKD 159
$3.18 MKD 169
-5.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.94 MKD 315
$4.80 MKD 255
23.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 MKD 49.99
$0.94 MKD 49.76
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 MKD 99.7
$1.46 MKD 77.2
28.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Bitola
Tetovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MKD 28.91
$0.39 MKD 20.71
38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.73 MKD 888
$11.20 MKD 594
49.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 MKD 59.3
$1.16 MKD 61.5
-3.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MKD 26.48
$0.50 MKD 26.49
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 MKD 357
$6.51 MKD 346
3.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 MKD 75.8
$1.42 MKD 75.3
0.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K MKD 1.7M
$31.6K MKD 1.7M
1.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K MKD 1.8M
$33.9K MKD 1.8M
0.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bitola
Tetovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 MKD 7,695
$146 MKD 7,757
-0.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.86 MKD 948
$17.86 MKD 947
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.58 MKD 826
$15.62 MKD 829
-0.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bitola
Tetovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.59 MKD 1,305
$89.8 MKD 4,767
-72.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.49 MKD 344
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.84 MKD 257
$4.58 MKD 243
5.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bitola
Tetovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$219 MKD 11.6K
$218 MKD 11.6K
0.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,214 MKD 64.4K
$2,239 MKD 118.8K
-45.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bitola
Tetovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.2 MKD 4,042
$64.7 MKD 3,432
17.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.94 MKD 2,597
$47.99 MKD 2,546
1.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.6 MKD 4,013
$75.4 MKD 3,998
0.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MKD 6,013
$111 MKD 5,903
1.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bitola
Tetovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$285 MKD 15.1K
$369 MKD 19.6K
-22.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$198 MKD 10.5K
$284 MKD 15.1K
-30.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$591 MKD 31.4K
$611 MKD 32.4K
-3.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$316 MKD 16.7K
$494 MKD 26.2K
-36.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,726 MKD 91.6K
$1,277 MKD 67.8K
35.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,188 MKD 63.0K
$1,144 MKD 60.7K
3.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bitola
Tetovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$785 MKD 41.6K
$917 MKD 48.7K
-14.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.1
3.75
89.33%

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

Last update for Bitola: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tetovo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Bitola and $369 in Tetovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tetovo pays 17% 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 $26.00 in Tetovo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $171 per month, with Tetovo cheaper across the board.

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 Tetovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bitola and Tetovo?
Bitola and Tetovo differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($883 vs $1,000 including rent). Bitola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Tetovo earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Bitola and Tetovo?
Rent for a central apartment: $285 in Bitola versus $369 in Tetovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Tetovo pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bitola – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $26.00 in Tetovo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Bitola vs Tetovo?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bitola 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 Tetovo?
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 Tetovo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bitola and Tetovo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bitola or Tetovo?
Expats usually find Bitola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Tetovo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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