😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $798 in Gostivar versus $783 in Brovary.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,195 in Gostivar versus $1,216 in Brovary.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,592 in Gostivar versus $1,650 in Brovary.
😐Living in Gostivar is roughly 2% more expensive than Brovary, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar41% lower, Brovary42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.13MKD 272
$7.92₴356
-35.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.07MKD 1,224
$33.72₴1,515
-31.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98MKD 264
$6.08₴273
-18.09%
Cappuccino
$1.39MKD 73.5
$1.52₴68.4
-8.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MKD 61.7
$0.67₴30.22
73.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MKD 61.0
$0.43₴19.17
167.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39MKD 73.7
$0.97₴43.45
43.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91MKD 101
$1.65₴73.9
15.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34MKD 71.1
$1.29₴58.0
3.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.73
$0.75₴33.59
-5.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54MKD 81.7
$1.44₴64.8
6.94%
Eggs
$2.12MKD 113
$1.55₴69.8
36.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.39MKD 339
$9.65₴433
-33.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.52MKD 293
$3.98₴179
38.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.64MKD 724
$7.66₴344
78.07%
Apples(1kg)
$1.06MKD 56.4
$0.88₴39.75
20.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MKD 76.6
$1.48₴66.5
-2.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32MKD 69.9
$1.83₴82.1
-27.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MKD 83.8
$2.23₴100
-29.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94MKD 49.73
$0.68₴30.39
38.24%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72MKD 38.34
$0.56₴25.12
28.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54MKD 28.92
$1.42₴63.8
-61.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MKD 29.78
$0.52₴23.44
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80MKD 148
$2.62₴118
6.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.60MKD 244
$5.74₴258
-19.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96MKD 51.0
$0.84₴37.75
14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53MKD 81.1
$1.36₴61.2
12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MKD 36.30
$0.38₴16.95
78.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.86MKD 1,054
$3.66₴164
442.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97MKD 51.7
$2.02₴90.8
-51.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36MKD 18.94
$0.13₴5.74
176.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.47MKD 343
$2.94₴132
120.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 78.2
$1.40₴62.7
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5KMKD 1.7M
$31.1K₴1.4M
1.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.2KMKD 2.5M
$25.0K₴1.1M
84.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131MKD 6,939
$60.0₴2,697
117.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.32MKD 601
$5.36₴241
111.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.23MKD 808
$7.21₴324
111.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.46MKD 1,404
$63.1₴2,833
-58.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.80₴440
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.79MKD 254
$4.97₴223
-3.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$219MKD 11.6K
$288₴12.9K
-24.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,209MKD 64.2K
$7,846₴352.5K
-84.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.49MKD 1,989
$41.21₴1,852
-9.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.20MKD 2,027
$24.56₴1,103
55.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7MKD 3,908
$85.3₴3,834
-13.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113MKD 5,985
$85.4₴3,838
32.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283MKD 15.0K
$338₴15.2K
-16.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$193MKD 10.2K
$244₴11.0K
-21.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$555MKD 29.5K
$491₴22.1K
13.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MKD 16.2K
$390₴17.5K
-21.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,656MKD 87.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,252MKD 66.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gostivar
Brovary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$885MKD 47.0K
$509₴22.9K
73.90%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Brovary: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Gostivar and $338 in Brovary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gostivar pays 74% 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 $180 vs $169, 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 Brovary?
Gostivar and Brovary differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($798 vs $783 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?
Gostivar pays 74% more on average, 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 Brovary?
Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Gostivar versus $338 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 Brovary?
A monthly transit pass in Brovary runs roughly 443% 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 $219 in Gostivar versus $288 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 vs 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 2% less than in Gostivar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.