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: $868 in Gostivar versus $878 in Sveti Nikole.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,295 in Gostivar versus $1,333 in Sveti Nikole.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,721 in Gostivar versus $1,788 in Sveti Nikole.

Living in Gostivar costs roughly 1% less than in Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar 37% lower, Sveti Nikole 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.51 MKD 346

$9.35 MKD 497

-30.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.17 MKD 1,498

$34.11 MKD 1,814

-17.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.07 MKD 323

$5.58 MKD 297

8.78%

Cappuccino

$1.39 MKD 74.0

$1.70 MKD 90.6

-18.24%

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

$1.38 MKD 73.2

$1.37 MKD 73.0

0.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 MKD 58.6

$1.05 MKD 55.7

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 MKD 70.7

$1.61 MKD 85.8

-17.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 MKD 103

$1.87 MKD 99.4

3.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 MKD 70.7

$1.38 MKD 73.3

-3.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 MKD 39.04

$0.57 MKD 30.23

28.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 MKD 78.4

$1.20 MKD 63.8

22.50%

Eggs

$2.46 MKD 131

$2.65 MKD 141

-7.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.50 MKD 345

$9.17 MKD 488

-29.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 MKD 304

$4.80 MKD 255

19.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.27 MKD 812

$12.37 MKD 658

23.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 MKD 77.9

$1.33 MKD 70.5

9.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 76.6

$1.28 MKD 68.2

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 71.7

$1.28 MKD 68.0

5.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MKD 98.8

$1.76 MKD 93.7

5.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 47.32

$0.70 MKD 37.48

27.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MKD 38.29

$1.15 MKD 61.0

-37.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 MKD 32.02

$0.83 MKD 44.01

-27.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MKD 31.20

$0.43 MKD 23.10

37.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 MKD 154

$3.13 MKD 166

-7.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.60 MKD 245

$6.55 MKD 348

-29.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MKD 51.4

$1.05 MKD 56.0

-7.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 MKD 77.7

$1.51 MKD 80.6

-3.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MKD 36.33

$0.77 MKD 40.73

-11.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.14 MKD 1,337

$23.09 MKD 1,228

8.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 MKD 41.81

$1.46 MKD 77.9

-45.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 MKD 18.24

$1.06 MKD 56.4

-67.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 MKD 417

$3.69 MKD 196

112.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MKD 81.8

$1.50 MKD 79.9

2.67%

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

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

$40.3K MKD 2.1M

-17.07%

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

$28.6K MKD 1.5M

-0.03%

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

$131 MKD 6,951

$141 MKD 7,493

-7.23%

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

$11.29 MKD 600

$15.64 MKD 832

-27.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.88 MKD 1,004

$12.08 MKD 642

56.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.62 MKD 1,362

$22.83 MKD 1,214

12.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 MKD 1,018

$19.30 MKD 1,026

-0.83%

Cinema Ticket

$7.63 MKD 406

$5.19 MKD 276

47.01%

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

$366 MKD 19.5K

$311 MKD 16.5K

17.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,823 MKD 309.6K

$4,453 MKD 236.8K

30.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.84 MKD 2,012

$73.7 MKD 3,918

-48.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.88 MKD 1,961

$32.73 MKD 1,741

12.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 MKD 5,636

$84.6 MKD 4,500

25.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MKD 6,137

$88.6 MKD 4,712

30.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 MKD 14.4K

$257 MKD 13.7K

5.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 MKD 10.4K

$199 MKD 10.6K

-2.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 MKD 25.1K

$433 MKD 23.0K

8.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 MKD 16.1K

$338 MKD 18.0K

-10.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,532 MKD 81.5K

$1,542 MKD 82.0K

-0.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 MKD 61.4K

$1,157 MKD 61.5K

-0.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$882 MKD 46.9K

$556 MKD 29.6K

58.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

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

Last update for Gostivar: September 12, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Gostivar and $257 in Sveti Nikole. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Gostivar vs $34.00 in Sveti Nikole. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $186, with Sveti Nikole cheaper for home cooking.

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 1% 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 58% 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: $271 in Gostivar versus $257 in Sveti Nikole. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $868 per month in Gostivar versus $878 in Sveti Nikole – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 9% 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 1% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.