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: $813 in Gostivar versus $864 in Sveti Nikole.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Gostivar versus $1,289 in Sveti Nikole.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Gostivar versus $1,715 in Sveti Nikole.

Living in Gostivar costs roughly 6% less than in Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar 39% lower, Sveti Nikole 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.19 MKD 277

$5.70 MKD 304

-8.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.38 MKD 1,250

$27.77 MKD 1,484

-15.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.03 MKD 269

$5.13 MKD 274

-1.95%

Cappuccino

$1.44 MKD 76.7

$1.71 MKD 91.2

-15.79%

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

$1.15 MKD 61.5

$1.66 MKD 88.7

-30.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MKD 61.7

$1.22 MKD 65.0

-4.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 MKD 72.1

$2.31 MKD 123

-41.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 MKD 98.4

$2.69 MKD 144

-31.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 MKD 75.2

$1.31 MKD 70.1

7.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 MKD 35.64

$0.71 MKD 38.13

-5.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 MKD 82.3

$1.73 MKD 92.5

-10.98%

Eggs

$2.09 MKD 112

$2.03 MKD 108

2.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.66 MKD 356

$8.22 MKD 439

-18.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 MKD 310

$6.22 MKD 333

-6.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 MKD 720

$13.81 MKD 738

-2.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 MKD 57.6

$1.03 MKD 55.0

4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 MKD 76.1

$1.42 MKD 76.0

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 MKD 67.2

$1.29 MKD 69.0

-2.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 87.3

$1.61 MKD 86.3

1.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 52.4

$0.89 MKD 47.35

10.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 MKD 41.92

$0.99 MKD 52.7

-21.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 MKD 28.80

$0.66 MKD 35.05

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 29.94

$0.54 MKD 28.71

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 MKD 148

$2.97 MKD 159

-6.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.71 MKD 252

$6.39 MKD 342

-26.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 MKD 48.36

$1.00 MKD 53.3

-10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 MKD 82.2

$1.53 MKD 81.9

0.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 MKD 33.61

$0.64 MKD 34.47

-1.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.00 MKD 1,069

$20.23 MKD 1,081

-1.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MKD 49.59

$1.33 MKD 70.9

-30.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MKD 18.79

$0.49 MKD 26.22

-28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.60 MKD 353

$6.55 MKD 350

0.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MKD 77.2

$1.49 MKD 79.8

-3.36%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$31.6K MKD 1.7M

1.10%

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

$46.2K MKD 2.5M

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

56.15%

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

$132 MKD 7,079

$146 MKD 7,816

-9.44%

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

$11.05 MKD 590

$17.49 MKD 934

-36.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.45 MKD 826

$15.26 MKD 815

1.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.09 MKD 1,394

$25.90 MKD 1,384

0.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 MKD 250

$4.78 MKD 256

-2.30%

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

$218 MKD 11.7K

$215 MKD 11.5K

1.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,197 MKD 64.0K

$1,185 MKD 63.3K

1.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.51 MKD 2,004

$77.0 MKD 4,116

-51.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.26 MKD 2,045

$40.23 MKD 2,150

-4.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 MKD 3,964

$75.1 MKD 4,014

-1.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,093

$112 MKD 5,967

2.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 MKD 15.0K

$279 MKD 14.9K

0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 MKD 10.3K

$195 MKD 10.4K

-0.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MKD 30.4K

$554 MKD 29.6K

2.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 MKD 16.8K

$311 MKD 16.6K

1.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,584 MKD 84.6K

$1,628 MKD 87.0K

-2.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,238 MKD 66.1K

$1,244 MKD 66.5K

-0.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$887 MKD 47.4K

$552 MKD 29.5K

60.64%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Gostivar and $279 in Sveti Nikole. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 61% 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 $182 vs $194 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 6% 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.

Average pay runs 61% higher in Gostivar, 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: $280 in Gostivar versus $279 in Sveti Nikole. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $813 per month in Gostivar versus $864 in Sveti Nikole – a 6% 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 6% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.