🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $813 in Gostivar versus $2,280 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Gostivar versus $3,294 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Gostivar versus $4,307 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Gostivar costs roughly 64% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gostivar is 39% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.19MKD 277
$15.75€13.64
-67.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.38MKD 1,250
$63.5€55.0
-63.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.03MKD 269
$10.45€9.05
-51.87%
Cappuccino
$1.44MKD 76.7
$2.91€2.52
-50.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MKD 61.5
$2.29€1.98
-49.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MKD 61.7
$1.50€1.30
-22.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35MKD 72.1
$3.56€3.09
-62.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84MKD 98.4
$3.96€3.43
-53.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41MKD 75.2
$1.08€0.94
30.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67MKD 35.64
$1.76€1.53
-61.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54MKD 82.3
$1.70€1.47
-9.41%
Eggs
$2.09MKD 112
$3.25€2.81
-35.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.66MKD 356
$13.25€11.47
-49.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79MKD 310
$7.70€6.67
-24.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47MKD 720
$15.77€13.66
-14.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.08MKD 57.6
$2.28€1.97
-52.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MKD 76.1
$1.66€1.43
-14.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26MKD 67.2
$2.02€1.75
-37.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63MKD 87.3
$2.47€2.14
-34.01%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98MKD 52.4
$1.79€1.55
-45.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78MKD 41.92
$2.07€1.79
-62.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54MKD 28.80
$1.97€1.71
-72.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MKD 29.94
$0.83€0.72
-32.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78MKD 148
$6.55€5.68
-57.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.71MKD 252
$5.57€4.82
-15.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90MKD 48.36
$1.33€1.15
-32.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54MKD 82.2
$3.01€2.60
-48.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63MKD 33.61
$2.27€1.97
-72.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.00MKD 1,069
$46.35€40.14
-56.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93MKD 49.59
$4.23€3.66
-78.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35MKD 18.79
$0.85€0.73
-58.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.60MKD 353
$18.83€16.31
-64.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MKD 77.2
$2.02€1.75
-28.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
$35.0K€30.3K
-8.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.2KMKD 2.5M
$39.6K€34.3K
16.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132MKD 7,079
$148€128
-10.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.05MKD 590
$20.52€17.77
-46.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.45MKD 826
$39.52€34.23
-60.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.09MKD 1,394
$48.17€41.72
-45.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39€15.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.67MKD 250
$9.10€7.88
-48.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$218MKD 11.7K
$615€532
-64.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,197MKD 64.0K
$16.3K€14.1K
-92.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.51MKD 2,004
$102€88.0
-63.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.26MKD 2,045
$42.09€36.45
-9.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2MKD 3,964
$92.3€79.9
-19.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114MKD 6,093
$122€106
-6.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280MKD 15.0K
$1,612€1,396
-82.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$193MKD 10.3K
$1,254€1,086
-84.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$569MKD 30.4K
$3,069€2,658
-81.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$315MKD 16.8K
$2,037€1,764
-84.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,584MKD 84.6K
$7,751€6,712
-79.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,238MKD 66.1K
$4,286€3,712
-71.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gostivar
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$887MKD 47.4K
$1,602€1,387
-44.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
3.81
70.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gostivar: July 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Gostivar and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 81% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $267 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 181% 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 81% 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: $280 in Gostivar versus $1,612 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 $813 per month in Gostivar versus $2,280 in Lisbon – a 181% 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 132% 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 $813 in Gostivar versus $2,280 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 $813 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 181% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.