🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $868 in Gostivar versus $1,247 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,295 in Gostivar versus $2,025 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,721 in Gostivar versus $2,803 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Gostivar costs roughly 30% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar37% lower, Tbilisi9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gostivar
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.51MKD 346
$11.33₾29.45
-42.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.17MKD 1,498
$38.71₾101
-27.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.07MKD 323
$9.52₾24.73
-36.24%
Cappuccino
$1.39MKD 74.0
$3.41₾8.85
-59.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MKD 73.2
$1.04₾2.71
32.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10MKD 58.6
$0.64₾1.66
71.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.33MKD 70.7
$2.61₾6.79
-49.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93MKD 103
$3.24₾8.43
-40.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MKD 70.7
$2.17₾5.65
-38.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73MKD 39.04
$0.74₾1.92
-1.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47MKD 78.4
$1.71₾4.45
-14.04%
Eggs
$2.46MKD 131
$2.83₾7.36
-13.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.50MKD 345
$9.22₾23.95
-29.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.72MKD 304
$6.76₾17.55
-15.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.27MKD 812
$12.77₾33.17
19.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46MKD 77.9
$1.64₾4.26
-10.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MKD 76.6
$1.77₾4.60
-18.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MKD 71.7
$1.87₾4.85
-27.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.86MKD 98.8
$2.44₾6.34
-23.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89MKD 47.32
$0.87₾2.25
2.30%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72MKD 38.29
$0.65₾1.70
10.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60MKD 32.02
$1.40₾3.64
-57.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MKD 31.20
$0.74₾1.93
-20.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89MKD 154
$3.41₾8.86
-15.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.60MKD 245
$7.60₾19.75
-39.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97MKD 51.4
$1.70₾4.41
-42.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MKD 77.7
$2.38₾6.20
-38.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Gostivar
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MKD 36.33
$0.36₾0.94
88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.14MKD 1,337
$15.24₾39.60
64.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79MKD 41.81
$1.18₾3.07
-33.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34MKD 18.24
$0.76₾1.97
-55.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84MKD 417
$11.34₾29.47
-30.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MKD 81.8
$1.33₾3.46
15.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KMKD 1.8M
$24.7K₾64.2K
35.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KMKD 1.5M
$22.0K₾57.2K
29.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131MKD 6,951
$88.9₾231
47.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29MKD 600
$13.33₾34.63
-15.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.88MKD 1,004
$20.12₾52.3
-6.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.62MKD 1,362
$68.7₾178
-62.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14MKD 1,018
$18.09₾47.01
5.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.63MKD 406
$6.72₾17.46
13.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gostivar
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$366MKD 19.5K
$374₾971
-2.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,823MKD 309.6K
$10.7K₾27.8K
-45.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.84MKD 2,012
$101₾263
-62.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.88MKD 1,961
$39.33₾102
-6.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106MKD 5,636
$118₾305
-9.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115MKD 6,137
$122₾318
-5.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271MKD 14.4K
$682₾1,773
-60.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195MKD 10.4K
$456₾1,186
-57.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$471MKD 25.1K
$1,303₾3,385
-63.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304MKD 16.1K
$899₾2,337
-66.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,532MKD 81.5K
$2,449₾6,365
-37.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,155MKD 61.4K
$1,452₾3,774
-20.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gostivar
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$882MKD 46.9K
$652₾1,695
35.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.23
12.62
-66.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gostivar: September 12, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Gostivar and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gostivar pays 35% 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $232 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 Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gostivar or Tbilisi?
Gostivar wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Tbilisi. 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 Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 35% higher in Gostivar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gostivar compared to Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $271 in Gostivar versus $682 in Tbilisi. 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 Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $868 per month in Gostivar versus $1,247 in Tbilisi – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Gostivar compared to Tbilisi?
A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 65% less than in Tbilisi. 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 Tbilisi?
At $868 in Gostivar versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gostivar but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. 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 Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gostivar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $868 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 Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Gostivar and Tbilisi 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 44% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.