😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $813 in Gostivar versus $774 in Brovary.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Gostivar versus $1,226 in Brovary.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Gostivar versus $1,677 in Brovary.
🌍Living in Gostivar is roughly 5% more expensive than in Brovary, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar39% lower, Brovary42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.19MKD 277
$7.97₴356
-34.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.38MKD 1,250
$33.81₴1,511
-30.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.03MKD 269
$6.14₴274
-18.08%
Cappuccino
$1.44MKD 76.7
$1.60₴71.6
-10.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MKD 61.5
$0.66₴29.67
74.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MKD 61.7
$0.43₴19.09
169.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35MKD 72.1
$1.01₴44.95
33.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84MKD 98.4
$1.59₴71.2
15.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41MKD 75.2
$1.25₴55.9
12.80%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67MKD 35.64
$0.74₴33.00
-9.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54MKD 82.3
$1.43₴64.0
7.69%
Eggs
$2.09MKD 112
$1.51₴67.3
38.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.66MKD 356
$9.72₴434
-31.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79MKD 310
$4.00₴179
44.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47MKD 720
$7.63₴341
76.54%
Apples(1kg)
$1.08MKD 57.6
$0.84₴37.62
28.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MKD 76.1
$1.46₴65.3
-2.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26MKD 67.2
$1.84₴82.1
-31.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63MKD 87.3
$2.34₴105
-30.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98MKD 52.4
$0.73₴32.49
34.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78MKD 41.92
$0.55₴24.70
41.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54MKD 28.80
$1.44₴64.2
-62.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MKD 29.94
$0.49₴21.82
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78MKD 148
$2.60₴116
6.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.71MKD 252
$4.38₴196
7.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90MKD 48.36
$0.84₴37.64
7.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54MKD 82.2
$1.31₴58.7
17.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63MKD 33.61
$0.34₴15.39
85.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.00MKD 1,069
$3.69₴165
442.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93MKD 49.59
$2.02₴90.1
-53.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35MKD 18.79
$0.13₴5.72
169.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.60MKD 353
$2.88₴129
129.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MKD 77.2
$1.40₴62.6
2.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
$31.6K₴1.4M
1.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.2KMKD 2.5M
$24.7K₴1.1M
86.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132MKD 7,079
$61.6₴2,754
114.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.05MKD 590
$5.32₴238
107.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.45MKD 826
$6.85₴306
125.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.09MKD 1,394
$63.5₴2,838
-58.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.48₴424
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.67MKD 250
$4.97₴222
-6.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$218MKD 11.7K
$290₴12.9K
-24.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,197MKD 64.0K
$7,853₴351.0K
-84.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.51MKD 2,004
$42.19₴1,886
-11.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.26MKD 2,045
$23.81₴1,064
60.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2MKD 3,964
$84.3₴3,767
-11.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114MKD 6,093
$83.5₴3,730
36.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280MKD 15.0K
$343₴15.3K
-18.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$193MKD 10.3K
$238₴10.7K
-18.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$569MKD 30.4K
$487₴21.8K
16.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$315MKD 16.8K
$387₴17.3K
-18.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,584MKD 84.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,238MKD 66.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$887MKD 47.4K
$498₴22.3K
78.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
8
-18.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gostivar: July 27, 2026
Last update for Brovary: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Gostivar and $343 in Brovary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gostivar pays 78% 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: $23.00 in Gostivar vs $34.00 in Brovary. Groceries flip the comparison at $182 vs $166, with Brovary 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
Gostivar vs Brovary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Gostivar and in Brovary?
Gostivar and Brovary differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($813 vs $774 including rent). Brovary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Gostivar or Brovary?
Average pay runs 78% higher in Gostivar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Gostivar and in Brovary?
Rent for a central apartment: $280 in Gostivar versus $343 in Brovary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Gostivar and in Brovary?
A monthly transit pass in Brovary runs roughly 442% less than in Gostivar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Gostivar and Brovary?
Childcare runs $218 in Gostivar versus $290 in Brovary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $1,200 go in Gostivar compared to Brovary?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Brovary 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 Gostivar and Brovary?
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 Gostivar or Brovary safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Gostivar and Brovary 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: Gostivar or Brovary?
Expats usually find Brovary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Gostivar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.