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: $798 in Gostivar versus $870 in Sveti Nikole.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,195 in Gostivar versus $1,321 in Sveti Nikole.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,592 in Gostivar versus $1,772 in Sveti Nikole.

Living in Gostivar costs roughly 8% less than in Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar 41% lower, Sveti Nikole 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 MKD 272

$5.58 MKD 296

-8.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.07 MKD 1,224

$28.19 MKD 1,496

-18.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 MKD 264

$4.96 MKD 263

0.40%

Cappuccino

$1.39 MKD 73.5

$1.66 MKD 87.9

-16.27%

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

$1.16 MKD 61.7

$1.61 MKD 85.5

-27.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MKD 61.0

$1.23 MKD 65.4

-6.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 MKD 73.7

$2.21 MKD 117

-37.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 MKD 101

$2.67 MKD 142

-28.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 71.1

$1.30 MKD 69.0

3.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MKD 37.73

$0.72 MKD 38.26

-1.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 MKD 81.7

$1.68 MKD 89.2

-8.33%

Eggs

$2.12 MKD 113

$2.11 MKD 112

0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.39 MKD 339

$8.58 MKD 455

-25.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 MKD 293

$6.47 MKD 343

-14.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 MKD 724

$13.82 MKD 733

-1.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 MKD 56.4

$1.02 MKD 54.3

3.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 76.6

$1.39 MKD 73.8

3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 MKD 69.9

$1.31 MKD 69.3

0.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 MKD 83.8

$1.57 MKD 83.3

0.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 49.73

$0.89 MKD 47.37

5.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MKD 38.34

$0.93 MKD 49.58

-22.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 MKD 28.92

$0.64 MKD 33.99

-15.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 29.78

$0.58 MKD 30.61

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 MKD 148

$3.02 MKD 160

-7.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.60 MKD 244

$6.53 MKD 346

-29.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 51.0

$0.94 MKD 50.0

2.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MKD 81.1

$1.46 MKD 77.6

4.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MKD 36.30

$0.65 MKD 34.34

4.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.86 MKD 1,054

$20.02 MKD 1,062

-0.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MKD 51.7

$1.27 MKD 67.6

-23.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MKD 18.94

$0.52 MKD 27.64

-30.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 MKD 343

$6.69 MKD 355

-3.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 MKD 78.2

$1.43 MKD 75.7

2.80%

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

$31.5K MKD 1.7M

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

-1.10%

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

$46.2K MKD 2.5M

$29.4K MKD 1.6M

57.10%

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

$131 MKD 6,939

$145 MKD 7,688

-9.73%

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

$11.32 MKD 601

$17.51 MKD 929

-35.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.23 MKD 808

$15.52 MKD 823

-1.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.46 MKD 1,404

$26.81 MKD 1,422

-1.31%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 MKD 254

$4.82 MKD 256

-0.62%

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

$219 MKD 11.6K

$222 MKD 11.8K

-1.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,209 MKD 64.2K

$1,180 MKD 62.6K

2.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.49 MKD 1,989

$76.3 MKD 4,046

-50.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.20 MKD 2,027

$38.98 MKD 2,069

-2.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 MKD 3,908

$76.3 MKD 4,046

-3.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 5,985

$112 MKD 5,952

0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MKD 15.0K

$284 MKD 15.1K

-0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 MKD 10.2K

$195 MKD 10.3K

-1.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$555 MKD 29.5K

$573 MKD 30.4K

-3.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 MKD 16.2K

$309 MKD 16.4K

-1.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,656 MKD 87.9K

0.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,252 MKD 66.4K

$1,311 MKD 69.6K

-4.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$885 MKD 47.0K

$567 MKD 30.1K

56.17%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Gostivar and $284 in Sveti Nikole. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 56% 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 $180 vs $196 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 9% 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 56% 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 $284 in Sveti Nikole. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $798 per month in Gostivar versus $870 in Sveti Nikole – a 9% 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 9% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.