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: $875 in Bitola versus $785 in Veles.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,310 in Bitola versus $1,155 in Veles.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,746 in Bitola versus $1,525 in Veles.

Living in Bitola is roughly 11% more expensive than in Veles, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 37% lower, Veles 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 MKD 282

$8.74 MKD 462

-38.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.66 MKD 1,514

$18.64 MKD 985

53.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.37 MKD 284

$5.75 MKD 304

-6.61%

Cappuccino

$2.01 MKD 106

$1.58 MKD 83.6

27.22%

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

$1.81 MKD 95.7

$1.31 MKD 69.1

38.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 MKD 79.3

$0.84 MKD 44.63

78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 MKD 117

$1.55 MKD 81.9

43.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 MKD 143

$3.30 MKD 175

-18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 MKD 74.7

$1.10 MKD 58.1

28.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 37.92

$0.51 MKD 26.71

41.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MKD 90.3

$1.53 MKD 80.7

11.76%

Eggs

$2.05 MKD 108

$2.56 MKD 135

-19.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.26 MKD 542

$2.96 MKD 156

246.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.38 MKD 390

$4.03 MKD 213

83.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.43 MKD 710

$15.26 MKD 806

-11.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 56.7

$1.53 MKD 80.8

-30.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MKD 77.1

$1.44 MKD 75.9

1.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 MKD 65.7

$1.43 MKD 75.5

-13.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 MKD 85.3

$2.02 MKD 107

-20.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 51.7

$0.87 MKD 45.72

12.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 70.9

$0.87 MKD 46.00

54.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 MKD 29.08

$0.62 MKD 32.61

-11.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 28.93

$0.58 MKD 30.53

-5.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 MKD 163

$3.49 MKD 184

-11.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.98 MKD 316

$6.42 MKD 339

-6.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MKD 54.3

$1.10 MKD 58.2

-6.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 MKD 100

$1.55 MKD 82.0

22.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MKD 28.72

$0.79 MKD 41.62

-31.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.81 MKD 888

$24.38 MKD 1,288

-31.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 58.6

$1.14 MKD 60.3

-2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MKD 33.79

$0.69 MKD 36.42

-7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 MKD 356

$7.61 MKD 402

-11.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 78.6

$1.43 MKD 75.4

4.20%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$27.4K MKD 1.4M

16.41%

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

$34.6K MKD 1.8M

$25.2K MKD 1.3M

37.29%

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

$152 MKD 8,007

$116 MKD 6,103

31.20%

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

$14.63 MKD 773

$17.79 MKD 940

-17.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.36 MKD 706

$12.37 MKD 654

8.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.77 MKD 1,203

$26.11 MKD 1,379

-12.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.72 MKD 355

$18.35 MKD 969

-63.38%

Cinema Ticket

$4.66 MKD 246

$3.32 MKD 175

40.36%

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

$218 MKD 11.5K

$229 MKD 12.1K

-5.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,220 MKD 64.5K

$5,616 MKD 296.7K

-78.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MKD 4,009

$22.52 MKD 1,190

236.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.87 MKD 2,529

$18.78 MKD 992

154.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 MKD 3,912

$74.0 MKD 3,911

0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 5,944

$111 MKD 5,876

1.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 MKD 14.3K

$223 MKD 11.8K

21.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 MKD 10.4K

$178 MKD 9,390

11.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 MKD 21.5K

$291 MKD 15.3K

39.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 MKD 16.0K

$235 MKD 12.4K

29.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,728 MKD 91.3K

$1,229 MKD 64.9K

40.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 MKD 63.4K

$982 MKD 51.9K

22.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$792 MKD 41.8K

$601 MKD 31.8K

31.66%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Veles: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Bitola and $223 in Veles. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 32% 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: $29.00 in Bitola vs $19.00 in Veles for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $174 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 11% in total monthly costs ($875 vs $785 including rent). Veles is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 32% 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: $270 in Bitola versus $223 in Veles. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% 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 $29.00 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 11% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.