🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $877 in Gostivar versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,294 in Gostivar versus $2,363 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,712 in Gostivar versus $3,347 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Gostivar costs roughly 36% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gostivar is 36% below, Ubud, Bali is 1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.40MKD 336
$3.31Rp 58.9K
93.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.89MKD 1,462
$39.08Rp 694.5K
-28.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.01MKD 315
$5.62Rp 99.8K
6.94%
Cappuccino
$1.44MKD 75.7
$2.64Rp 46.9K
-45.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MKD 73.0
$1.58Rp 28.2K
-12.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10MKD 57.5
$0.71Rp 12.6K
54.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36MKD 71.3
$2.73Rp 48.5K
-50.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86MKD 97.6
$4.32Rp 76.8K
-56.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MKD 69.8
$1.54Rp 27.4K
-13.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73MKD 38.03
$2.30Rp 40.8K
-68.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47MKD 77.1
$1.03Rp 18.3K
42.72%
Eggs
$2.51MKD 131
$2.12Rp 37.7K
18.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.48MKD 340
$17.30Rp 307.5K
-62.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.54MKD 291
$4.03Rp 71.6K
37.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.23MKD 746
$12.42Rp 220.8K
14.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.47MKD 76.9
$3.70Rp 65.7K
-60.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47MKD 77.1
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-9.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37MKD 71.7
$2.27Rp 40.3K
-39.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.93MKD 101
$1.99Rp 35.4K
-3.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86MKD 45.12
$1.83Rp 32.5K
-53.01%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72MKD 37.91
$2.25Rp 40.1K
-68.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60MKD 31.46
$1.04Rp 18.6K
-42.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MKD 30.25
$0.56Rp 10.0K
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88MKD 151
$2.22Rp 39.5K
29.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.70MKD 246
$23.22Rp 412.7K
-79.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92MKD 48.16
$2.39Rp 42.5K
-61.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48MKD 77.5
$2.87Rp 51.1K
-48.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76MKD 39.67
$0.25Rp 4,416
204.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.58MKD 1,132
$7.17Rp 127.4K
200.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77MKD 40.30
$0.46Rp 8,163
67.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34MKD 17.95
$0.46Rp 8,235
-26.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.60MKD 398
$5.70Rp 101.2K
33.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MKD 78.7
$0.76Rp 13.6K
97.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
$24.6KRp 436.7M
36.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KMKD 1.5M
$31.0KRp 551.5M
-9.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134MKD 7,028
$82.2Rp 1.5M
63.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.27MKD 591
$6.33Rp 112.5K
78.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53MKD 1,024
$18.54Rp 329.6K
5.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.73MKD 1,454
$56.1Rp 996.2K
-50.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.90MKD 886
$18.41Rp 327.2K
-8.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.93MKD 363
$4.26Rp 75.8K
62.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$383MKD 20.1K
$489Rp 8.7M
-21.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,550MKD 291.0K
$5,793Rp 103.0M
-4.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.29MKD 1,955
$45.98Rp 817.3K
-18.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.33MKD 2,010
$35.86Rp 637.4K
6.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108MKD 5,639
$79.5Rp 1.4M
35.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117MKD 6,133
$80.9Rp 1.4M
44.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$285MKD 15.0K
$1,144Rp 20.3M
-75.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$206MKD 10.8K
$692Rp 12.3M
-70.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$451MKD 23.6K
$3,532Rp 62.8M
-87.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MKD 16.0K
$1,709Rp 30.4M
-82.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,651MKD 86.6K
$2,785Rp 49.5M
-40.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,286MKD 67.4K
$2,261Rp 40.2M
-43.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gostivar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$889MKD 46.6K
$169Rp 3.0M
424.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
13.78
-69.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gostivar: August 16, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Gostivar and $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gostivar pays 425% 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 Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $293 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 57% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 425% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $285 in Gostivar versus $1,144 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 $877 per month in Gostivar versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Gostivar compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 201% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $877 in Gostivar versus $1,379 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 $877 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 57% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.