Cost of Living Comparison Between Gostivar and Sveti Nikole Cost of Living Comparison Between Gostivar and Sveti Nikole

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $822 in Gostivar versus $887 in Sveti Nikole.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,201 in Gostivar versus $1,330 in Sveti Nikole.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,580 in Gostivar versus $1,772 in Sveti Nikole.

Living in Gostivar costs roughly 7% less than in Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar 39% lower, Sveti Nikole 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 MKD 279

$5.75 MKD 302

-7.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.13 MKD 1,215

$27.67 MKD 1,453

-16.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 MKD 270

$5.01 MKD 263

2.40%

Cappuccino

$1.44 MKD 75.6

$1.72 MKD 90.5

-16.28%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MKD 58.7

$1.61 MKD 84.3

-30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MKD 60.8

$1.27 MKD 66.4

-8.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 MKD 72.9

$2.31 MKD 121

-39.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 MKD 98.0

$2.77 MKD 145

-32.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 MKD 70.1

$1.26 MKD 66.2

5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 MKD 36.11

$0.67 MKD 34.97

2.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 MKD 77.3

$1.69 MKD 88.5

-13.02%

Eggs

$2.03 MKD 106

$2.04 MKD 107

-0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.76 MKD 355

$8.38 MKD 440

-19.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.73 MKD 301

$6.16 MKD 324

-6.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 MKD 716

$13.76 MKD 723

-0.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 MKD 54.6

$1.03 MKD 54.0

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 72.9

$1.38 MKD 72.3

0.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 MKD 65.2

$1.27 MKD 66.6

-2.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 MKD 83.5

$1.62 MKD 85.0

-1.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 49.16

$0.95 MKD 50.1

-1.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 MKD 38.45

$0.90 MKD 47.49

-18.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 MKD 28.03

$0.66 MKD 34.69

-19.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MKD 29.72

$0.56 MKD 29.65

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 MKD 149

$2.95 MKD 155

-3.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.81 MKD 253

$5.63 MKD 296

-14.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MKD 50.8

$1.01 MKD 53.3

-3.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MKD 80.3

$1.52 MKD 79.9

0.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MKD 35.76

$0.69 MKD 36.21

-1.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.01 MKD 1,051

$20.16 MKD 1,059

-0.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 MKD 49.93

$1.33 MKD 69.7

-28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MKD 17.23

$0.49 MKD 25.74

-32.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 MKD 347

$6.43 MKD 338

2.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MKD 78.7

$1.44 MKD 75.8

4.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$32.4K MKD 1.7M

-1.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$47.5K MKD 2.5M

$29.8K MKD 1.6M

59.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$134 MKD 7,013

$147 MKD 7,712

-9.07%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.12 MKD 584

$17.32 MKD 910

-35.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.29 MKD 803

$15.48 MKD 813

-1.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.10 MKD 1,371

$26.65 MKD 1,400

-2.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MKD 253

$4.79 MKD 251

0.42%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$222 MKD 11.6K

$217 MKD 11.4K

2.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,184 MKD 62.2K

$1,209 MKD 63.5K

-2.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.77 MKD 1,984

$77.8 MKD 4,083

-51.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.22 MKD 1,955

$39.91 MKD 2,096

-6.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 MKD 4,004

$74.9 MKD 3,935

1.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 5,925

$112 MKD 5,894

0.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MKD 14.9K

$282 MKD 14.8K

0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 MKD 10.4K

$194 MKD 10.2K

1.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MKD 29.9K

$560 MKD 29.4K

1.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 MKD 16.4K

$315 MKD 16.5K

-1.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,627 MKD 85.5K

$1,572 MKD 82.6K

3.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,207 MKD 63.4K

$1,224 MKD 64.3K

-1.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$903 MKD 47.4K

$767 MKD 40.3K

17.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

4.54

43.17%

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

Last update for Gostivar: April 26, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Gostivar and $282 in Sveti Nikole. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Gostivar vs $28.00 in Sveti Nikole for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $191 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 Sveti Nikole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gostivar wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Sveti Nikole. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gostivar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Gostivar pays 18% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Gostivar versus $282 in Sveti Nikole. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $822 per month in Gostivar versus $887 in Sveti Nikole – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 1% less than in Sveti Nikole. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Gostivar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Gostivar and Sveti Nikole are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gostivar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.