🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $822 in Gostivar versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,201 in Gostivar versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,580 in Gostivar versus $3,732 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 39% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.31MKD 279
$3.57Rp 61.6K
48.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.13MKD 1,215
$32.58Rp 562.6K
-29.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.13MKD 270
$5.07Rp 87.5K
1.18%
Cappuccino
$1.44MKD 75.6
$2.83Rp 48.8K
-49.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MKD 58.7
$1.34Rp 23.1K
-16.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MKD 60.8
$0.69Rp 12.0K
68.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39MKD 72.9
$2.99Rp 51.6K
-53.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87MKD 98.0
$3.85Rp 66.4K
-51.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MKD 70.1
$1.74Rp 30.1K
-23.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.69MKD 36.11
$2.54Rp 43.8K
-72.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47MKD 77.3
$1.19Rp 20.6K
23.53%
Eggs
$2.03MKD 106
$2.43Rp 41.9K
-16.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.76MKD 355
$14.66Rp 253.2K
-53.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.73MKD 301
$4.18Rp 72.1K
37.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63MKD 716
$11.94Rp 206.1K
14.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04MKD 54.6
$3.69Rp 63.6K
-71.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MKD 72.9
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-13.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24MKD 65.2
$2.69Rp 46.4K
-53.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59MKD 83.5
$2.33Rp 40.2K
-31.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94MKD 49.16
$1.91Rp 32.9K
-50.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73MKD 38.45
$2.19Rp 37.7K
-66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53MKD 28.03
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MKD 29.72
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-20.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84MKD 149
$3.13Rp 54.1K
-9.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.81MKD 253
$23.49Rp 405.6K
-79.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97MKD 50.8
$2.74Rp 47.3K
-64.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53MKD 80.3
$2.88Rp 49.7K
-46.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MKD 35.76
$0.29Rp 5,010
134.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.01MKD 1,051
$8.17Rp 141.0K
144.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95MKD 49.93
$0.45Rp 7,834
111.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33MKD 17.23
$0.42Rp 7,278
-21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.61MKD 347
$6.16Rp 106.3K
7.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MKD 78.7
$0.84Rp 14.5K
78.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
$26.2KRp 453.1M
21.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$47.5KMKD 2.5M
$32.5KRp 560.8M
46.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134MKD 7,013
$78.4Rp 1.4M
70.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.12MKD 584
$3.95Rp 68.2K
181.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.29MKD 803
$24.40Rp 421.4K
-37.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.10MKD 1,371
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-72.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 109.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.81MKD 253
$4.04Rp 69.7K
19.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MKD 11.6K
$303Rp 5.2M
-26.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,184MKD 62.2K
$6,523Rp 112.6M
-81.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.77MKD 1,984
$53.8Rp 929.5K
-29.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.22MKD 1,955
$37.98Rp 655.8K
-2.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.2MKD 4,004
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-12.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113MKD 5,925
$78.9Rp 1.4M
43.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283MKD 14.9K
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-72.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$197MKD 10.4K
$674Rp 11.6M
-70.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$569MKD 29.9K
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-83.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$312MKD 16.4K
$2,098Rp 36.2M
-85.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,627MKD 85.5K
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-45.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,207MKD 63.4K
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-48.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$903MKD 47.4K
$173Rp 3.0M
421.60%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Gostivar and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gostivar pays 422% 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 $181 vs $298 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 75% 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 422% 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 $1,012 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 $822 per month in Gostivar versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 75% 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 145% 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 $822 in Gostivar versus $1,438 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 $822 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 75% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.