🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $798 in Gostivar versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,195 in Gostivar versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,592 in Gostivar versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Gostivar costs roughly 43% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gostivar is 41% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.13MKD 272
$3.57Rp 64.0K
43.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.07MKD 1,224
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-29.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98MKD 264
$4.86Rp 87.1K
2.47%
Cappuccino
$1.39MKD 73.5
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-49.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MKD 61.7
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-12.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MKD 61.0
$0.70Rp 12.6K
64.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39MKD 73.7
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-52.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91MKD 101
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-49.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34MKD 71.1
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-21.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.73
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-71.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54MKD 81.7
$1.20Rp 21.5K
28.33%
Eggs
$2.12MKD 113
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-13.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.39MKD 339
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-55.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.52MKD 293
$4.31Rp 77.1K
28.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.64MKD 724
$12.21Rp 218.7K
11.71%
Apples(1kg)
$1.06MKD 56.4
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-71.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MKD 76.6
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-7.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32MKD 69.9
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-52.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MKD 83.8
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-32.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94MKD 49.73
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-52.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72MKD 38.34
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-68.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54MKD 28.92
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-49.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MKD 29.78
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-23.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80MKD 148
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-14.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.60MKD 244
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-79.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96MKD 51.0
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-65.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53MKD 81.1
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-44.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MKD 36.30
$0.29Rp 5,217
134.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.86MKD 1,054
$8.06Rp 144.4K
146.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97MKD 51.7
$0.45Rp 8,047
115.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36MKD 18.94
$0.45Rp 8,094
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.47MKD 343
$6.24Rp 111.7K
3.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 78.2
$0.85Rp 15.2K
72.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5KMKD 1.7M
$26.0KRp 465.4M
21.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.2KMKD 2.5M
$31.7KRp 567.2M
46.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131MKD 6,939
$80.8Rp 1.4M
61.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.32MKD 601
$4.06Rp 72.7K
178.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.23MKD 808
$24.42Rp 437.6K
-37.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.46MKD 1,404
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-72.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.79MKD 254
$4.04Rp 72.4K
18.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$219MKD 11.6K
$304Rp 5.4M
-28.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,209MKD 64.2K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-81.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.49MKD 1,989
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-30.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.20MKD 2,027
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-1.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7MKD 3,908
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-14.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113MKD 5,985
$76.7Rp 1.4M
47.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283MKD 15.0K
$986Rp 17.7M
-71.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$193MKD 10.2K
$658Rp 11.8M
-70.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$555MKD 29.5K
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-83.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MKD 16.2K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-85.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,656MKD 87.9K
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-39.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,252MKD 66.4K
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-43.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$885MKD 47.0K
$163Rp 2.9M
441.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
13.28
-51.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gostivar: June 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Gostivar and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gostivar pays 442% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $297 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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gostivar or Ubud, Bali?
Gostivar wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Ubud, Bali. 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 Ubud, Bali?
Gostivar pays 442% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Gostivar versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. 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 Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $798 per month in Gostivar versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Gostivar vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 146% less than in Ubud, Bali. 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $798 in Gostivar versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gostivar but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. 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 Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gostivar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $798 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 Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Gostivar and Ubud, Bali 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 76% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.