🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $868 in Gostivar versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,295 in Gostivar versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,721 in Gostivar versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Gostivar costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gostivar is 37% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.51MKD 346
$17.59€15.33
-62.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.17MKD 1,498
$62.9€54.8
-55.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.07MKD 323
$11.58€10.10
-47.58%
Cappuccino
$1.39MKD 74.0
$3.10€2.70
-55.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MKD 73.2
$2.49€2.17
-44.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10MKD 58.6
$1.74€1.52
-36.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.33MKD 70.7
$3.48€3.03
-61.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93MKD 103
$3.44€3.00
-43.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MKD 70.7
$1.15€1.00
15.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73MKD 39.04
$1.91€1.66
-61.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47MKD 78.4
$1.50€1.31
-2.00%
Eggs
$2.46MKD 131
$3.98€3.47
-38.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.50MKD 345
$13.29€11.59
-51.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.72MKD 304
$8.01€6.98
-28.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.27MKD 812
$18.04€15.73
-15.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46MKD 77.9
$2.35€2.05
-37.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MKD 76.6
$1.75€1.53
-17.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MKD 71.7
$1.85€1.62
-27.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.86MKD 98.8
$2.55€2.22
-27.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89MKD 47.32
$1.84€1.61
-51.63%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72MKD 38.29
$2.10€1.83
-65.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60MKD 32.02
$1.49€1.30
-59.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MKD 31.20
$0.82€0.71
-28.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89MKD 154
$7.10€6.19
-59.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.60MKD 245
$5.91€5.15
-22.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97MKD 51.4
$1.31€1.15
-25.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MKD 77.7
$2.13€1.86
-31.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MKD 36.33
$2.36€2.05
-71.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.14MKD 1,337
$46.62€40.63
-46.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79MKD 41.81
$4.08€3.55
-80.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34MKD 18.24
$1.14€0.99
-70.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84MKD 417
$17.09€14.90
-54.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MKD 81.8
$2.31€2.01
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KMKD 1.8M
$34.1K€29.7K
-1.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KMKD 1.5M
$41.4K€36.1K
-30.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131MKD 6,951
$169€147
-22.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29MKD 600
$19.33€16.85
-41.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.88MKD 1,004
$33.51€29.21
-43.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.62MKD 1,362
$48.84€42.57
-47.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14MKD 1,018
$19.43€16.94
-1.49%
Cinema Ticket
$7.63MKD 406
$9.57€8.34
-20.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$366MKD 19.5K
$696€607
-47.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,823MKD 309.6K
$17.4K€15.1K
-66.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.84MKD 2,012
$105€91.8
-64.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.88MKD 1,961
$47.75€41.62
-22.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106MKD 5,636
$101€87.6
5.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115MKD 6,137
$124€108
-7.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271MKD 14.4K
$1,662€1,449
-83.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195MKD 10.4K
$1,246€1,086
-84.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$471MKD 25.1K
$2,965€2,584
-84.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304MKD 16.1K
$2,049€1,786
-85.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,532MKD 81.5K
$7,834€6,829
-80.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,155MKD 61.4K
$4,464€3,892
-74.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$882MKD 46.9K
$1,632€1,422
-45.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.23
3.78
11.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gostivar: September 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Gostivar and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 85% 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 Gostivar vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $277 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gostivar or Lisbon?
Gostivar wins on cost – living expenses run 164% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gostivar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gostivar or in Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 85% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gostivar compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $271 in Gostivar versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Gostivar compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $868 per month in Gostivar versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 164% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Gostivar compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 85% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Gostivar or in Lisbon?
At $868 in Gostivar versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gostivar but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Gostivar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gostivar or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gostivar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $868 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gostivar hard to pass up.
How safe is Gostivar compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Gostivar and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gostivar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 164% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.