Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Veles Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Veles

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $897 in Bitola versus $765 in Veles.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Bitola versus $1,136 in Veles.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in Bitola versus $1,507 in Veles.

Living in Bitola is roughly 17% more expensive than in Veles, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 33% lower, Veles 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 MKD 298

$5.77 MKD 310

-3.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.95 MKD 1,501

$18.54 MKD 995

50.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.17 MKD 277

$5.05 MKD 271

2.38%

Cappuccino

$1.97 MKD 106

$1.53 MKD 82.2

28.76%

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

$1.80 MKD 96.4

$1.33 MKD 71.2

35.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 MKD 65.4

$0.85 MKD 45.37

43.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 MKD 118

$1.52 MKD 81.4

45.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 MKD 147

$2.77 MKD 149

-1.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 75.2

$1.09 MKD 58.5

28.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 38.55

$0.55 MKD 29.50

30.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MKD 95.2

$1.54 MKD 82.8

14.94%

Eggs

$2.01 MKD 108

$2.05 MKD 110

-1.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 MKD 556

$3.04 MKD 163

240.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 MKD 382

$4.07 MKD 218

74.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 MKD 733

$13.68 MKD 734

-0.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 55.2

$1.04 MKD 55.8

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 77.2

$1.37 MKD 73.6

5.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 MKD 67.0

$1.26 MKD 67.6

-0.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 MKD 86.6

$1.58 MKD 84.9

1.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.74

$0.98 MKD 52.6

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 71.8

$1.33 MKD 71.6

0.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 MKD 29.24

$0.58 MKD 31.01

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 30.32

$0.54 MKD 28.96

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 MKD 164

$2.94 MKD 158

3.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.95 MKD 319

$6.17 MKD 331

-3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 51.4

$1.00 MKD 53.7

-4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 MKD 97.7

$1.83 MKD 98.1

-0.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MKD 29.29

$0.68 MKD 36.68

-19.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.81 MKD 902

$49.96 MKD 2,682

-66.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 59.8

$1.16 MKD 62.4

-4.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.17

$0.49 MKD 26.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 MKD 348

$6.43 MKD 345

0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 76.6

$1.45 MKD 77.7

-1.38%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$27.0K MKD 1.4M

18.16%

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

$33.3K MKD 1.8M

$24.6K MKD 1.3M

35.33%

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

$145 MKD 7,775

$115 MKD 6,159

26.23%

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

$17.32 MKD 930

$17.17 MKD 922

0.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.69 MKD 842

$12.10 MKD 650

29.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.19 MKD 1,299

$26.15 MKD 1,404

-7.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.47 MKD 347

$1.92 MKD 103

236.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 MKD 256

$3.35 MKD 180

42.39%

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

$219 MKD 11.7K

$223 MKD 12.0K

-1.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,211 MKD 65.0K

$1,210 MKD 64.9K

0.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.3 MKD 4,203

$22.39 MKD 1,202

249.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.21 MKD 2,534

$19.06 MKD 1,023

147.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 MKD 3,978

$75.1 MKD 4,033

-1.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,979

$113 MKD 6,052

-1.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MKD 15.3K

$226 MKD 12.1K

25.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 MKD 10.5K

$174 MKD 9,326

12.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$606 MKD 32.5K

$291 MKD 15.6K

108.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 MKD 16.8K

$242 MKD 13.0K

29.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,727 MKD 92.7K

$1,201 MKD 64.5K

43.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,181 MKD 63.4K

$957 MKD 51.4K

23.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 MKD 41.7K

$603 MKD 32.4K

28.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

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

Last update for Bitola: July 11, 2026

Last update for Veles: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Bitola and $226 in Veles. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 29% 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 $19.00 in Veles for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $163 per month, with Veles 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 Veles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bitola and Veles differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($897 vs $765 including rent). Veles is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 29% 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 $226 in Veles. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Veles – a meal for two runs $19.00 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 Veles 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 Veles 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 Veles gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.