Cost of Living Comparison Between Gostivar and Bitola Cost of Living Comparison Between Gostivar and Bitola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $822 in Gostivar versus $892 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,201 in Gostivar versus $1,346 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,580 in Gostivar versus $1,800 in Bitola.

Living in Gostivar costs roughly 8% less than in Bitola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar 39% lower, Bitola 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 MKD 280

$5.49 MKD 290

-3.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.13 MKD 1,219

$28.66 MKD 1,511

-19.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 MKD 271

Cappuccino

$1.44 MKD 75.9

$1.96 MKD 104

-26.53%

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

$1.12 MKD 58.9

$1.79 MKD 94.4

-37.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MKD 61.1

$1.23 MKD 65.0

-5.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 MKD 73.2

$2.29 MKD 121

-39.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 MKD 98.4

$2.67 MKD 141

-29.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 MKD 70.4

$1.41 MKD 74.2

-5.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 MKD 36.25

$0.68 MKD 36.10

1.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 MKD 77.6

$1.71 MKD 90.2

-14.04%

Eggs

$2.03 MKD 107

$2.05 MKD 108

-0.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.76 MKD 356

$10.40 MKD 548

-35.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.73 MKD 302

$7.38 MKD 389

-22.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 MKD 718

$13.35 MKD 704

2.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 MKD 54.8

$1.02 MKD 53.9

1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 73.2

$1.38 MKD 72.6

0.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 MKD 65.5

$1.27 MKD 66.9

-2.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 MKD 83.8

$1.55 MKD 81.9

2.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 49.36

$0.97 MKD 51.3

-3.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 MKD 38.60

$1.34 MKD 70.6

-45.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 MKD 28.15

$0.57 MKD 30.22

-7.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MKD 29.84

$0.54 MKD 28.22

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 MKD 150

$3.04 MKD 160

-6.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.81 MKD 254

$6.03 MKD 318

-20.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MKD 51.0

$0.92 MKD 48.78

5.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MKD 80.6

$1.79 MKD 94.5

-14.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MKD 35.90

$0.54 MKD 28.70

25.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.01 MKD 1,055

$17.24 MKD 909

16.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 MKD 50.1

$1.10 MKD 57.9

-13.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MKD 17.30

$0.52 MKD 27.44

-36.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 MKD 349

$6.67 MKD 352

-0.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MKD 79.0

$1.47 MKD 77.6

2.04%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$31.8K MKD 1.7M

0.49%

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

$47.5K MKD 2.5M

$33.2K MKD 1.8M

43.10%

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

$134 MKD 7,041

$148 MKD 7,782

-9.53%

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

$11.12 MKD 586

$17.55 MKD 925

-36.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.29 MKD 806

$15.32 MKD 808

-0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.10 MKD 1,376

$24.06 MKD 1,269

8.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.70 MKD 353

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MKD 254

$4.77 MKD 252

0.84%

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

$222 MKD 11.7K

$216 MKD 11.4K

2.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,184 MKD 62.4K

$1,195 MKD 63.0K

-0.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.77 MKD 1,992

$76.2 MKD 4,015

-50.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.22 MKD 1,963

$48.40 MKD 2,552

-23.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 MKD 4,020

$76.5 MKD 4,032

-0.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 5,948

$112 MKD 5,903

0.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MKD 14.9K

$284 MKD 15.0K

-0.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 MKD 10.4K

$198 MKD 10.4K

-0.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MKD 30.0K

$592 MKD 31.2K

-3.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 MKD 16.4K

$313 MKD 16.5K

-0.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,627 MKD 85.8K

$1,796 MKD 94.7K

-9.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,207 MKD 63.6K

$1,203 MKD 63.4K

0.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$903 MKD 47.6K

$788 MKD 41.6K

14.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

7.1

-8.45%

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

Last update for Gostivar: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bitola: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Gostivar and $284 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Gostivar vs $29.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $205 per month, with Gostivar 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

Gostivar vs Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gostivar and Bitola differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($822 vs $892 including rent). Gostivar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Gostivar pays 15% more on average, 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: $283 in Gostivar versus $284 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Gostivar – a meal for two runs $23.00 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 Gostivar 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, Gostivar and Bitola 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 Gostivar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.