Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gostivar and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Gostivar: $837 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $16,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gostivar, North Macedonia
Lisbon, Portugal
Gostivar
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
$837
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gostivar and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gostivar and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $837 in Gostivar versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Gostivar $837
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,265 in Gostivar versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Gostivar $1,265
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,693 in Gostivar versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Gostivar $1,693
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Gostivar costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Gostivar is 38% below, Lisbon is 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.56 MKD 361
$16.65 €14.91
-60.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.78 MKD 1,528
$61.7 €55.3
-55.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.85 MKD 322
$11.36 €10.17
-48.50%
Cappuccino
$1.38 MKD 76.0
$2.97 €2.66
-53.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 MKD 72.7
$2.29 €2.05
-42.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 MKD 58.6
$1.74 €1.56
-39.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.31 MKD 72.3
$3.40 €3.05
-61.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 MKD 102
$3.31 €2.96
-44.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 MKD 68.1
$1.16 €1.04
6.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 MKD 38.81
$1.91 €1.71
-62.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 MKD 78.4
$1.51 €1.35
-5.30%
Eggs
$2.37 MKD 130
$4.02 €3.60
-41.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.29 MKD 346
$12.94 €11.59
-51.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.55 MKD 305
$7.77 €6.96
-28.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 MKD 786
$17.76 €15.91
-19.48%
Apples (1kg)
$1.41 MKD 77.5
$2.30 €2.06
-38.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 MKD 77.4
$1.73 €1.55
-18.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 MKD 72.8
$1.86 €1.66
-29.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.86 MKD 102
$2.59 €2.32
-28.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 MKD 45.51
$1.82 €1.63
-54.40%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 MKD 41.35
$1.97 €1.76
-61.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 MKD 34.49
$1.47 €1.32
-57.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MKD 29.49
$0.72 €0.65
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 MKD 154
$6.58 €5.90
-57.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.44 MKD 244
$5.61 €5.02
-20.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 MKD 51.7
$1.36 €1.22
-30.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MKD 79.0
$2.14 €1.91
-32.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 MKD 39.02
$2.33 €2.09
-69.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.74 MKD 1,416
$44.68 €40.01
-42.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 MKD 41.47
$3.85 €3.45
-80.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 MKD 17.00
$1.07 €0.96
-71.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.77 MKD 427
$16.46 €14.74
-52.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 MKD 78.2
$2.20 €1.97
-35.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K MKD 1.8M
$34.2K €30.6K
-5.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K MKD 1.5M
$38.7K €34.7K
-31.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$129 MKD 7,092
$161 €144
-20.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.81 MKD 595
$18.41 €16.49
-41.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.72 MKD 1,029
$32.74 €29.32
-42.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.69 MKD 1,193
$44.55 €39.90
-51.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.18 MKD 890
$19.10 €17.10
-15.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.09 MKD 390
$9.60 €8.60
-26.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$368 MKD 20.2K
$668 €598
-44.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,800 MKD 319.0K
$17.6K €15.8K
-67.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.82 MKD 2,025
$102 €91.4
-63.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07 MKD 2,039
$44.46 €39.82
-16.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 MKD 5,550
$98.5 €88.2
2.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 MKD 6,181
$124 €111
-9.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$271 MKD 14.9K
$1,608 €1,440
-83.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$193 MKD 10.6K
$1,190 €1,066
-83.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$497 MKD 27.3K
$2,812 €2,519
-82.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$296 MKD 16.3K
$2,013 €1,803
-85.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,515 MKD 83.3K
$7,839 €7,021
-80.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,165 MKD 64.1K
$4,576 €4,098
-74.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$880 MKD 48.4K
$1,575 €1,411
-44.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
3.85
9.87%

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

Last update for Gostivar: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
$193
Lisbon
$1.2K 518% $997
Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
$184
Lisbon
$272 48.4% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
$158
Lisbon
$212 34% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
$129
Lisbon
$166 28.4% $37
Eating Out
Gostivar
$106
Lisbon
$243 128% $136
Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
$36
Lisbon
$64 77.7% $28
Getting Around
Gostivar
$31
Lisbon
$63 105% $32

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Gostivar and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 79% 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 in Gostivar vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $272 per month, with Gostivar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇰 Gostivar
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
16:00 4:00 PM
15:00 3:00 PM
1 h behind Gostivar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,000
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MKD – North Macedonian Denar Converter

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 55 MKD (100 MKD = 1.82 USD). 1 EUR = 61.41 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gostivar Lisbon 2,560 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Gostivar
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 62% 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 44% lower in Gostivar. 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 $1,608 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 $837 per month in Gostivar versus $2,210 in Lisbon – Gostivar is about 62% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Gostivar compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 42% less than in Lisbon. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Gostivar or in Lisbon?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Gostivar is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Gostivar or Lisbon?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gostivar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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