Cost of Living Comparison Between Gostivar and Zhongshan Cost of Living Comparison Between Gostivar and Zhongshan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $863 in Gostivar versus $689 in Zhongshan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,329 in Gostivar versus $1,093 in Zhongshan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,795 in Gostivar versus $1,497 in Zhongshan.

Living in Gostivar is roughly 25% more expensive than in Zhongshan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar 37% lower, Zhongshan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 MKD 352

$2.94 ¥19.73

126.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.70 MKD 1,515

$23.60 ¥158

21.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 MKD 321

$4.55 ¥30.50

33.63%

Cappuccino

$1.38 MKD 73.1

$2.95 ¥19.79

-53.22%

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

$1.40 MKD 73.9

$0.44 ¥2.92

218.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MKD 60.7

$0.29 ¥1.93

296.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 MKD 71.1

$0.77 ¥5.15

75.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 MKD 98.8

$1.82 ¥12.17

2.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.6

$1.57 ¥10.52

-14.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 MKD 38.83

$1.70 ¥11.37

-56.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 MKD 77.7

$0.70 ¥4.69

110.00%

Eggs

$2.50 MKD 132

$1.19 ¥7.97

110.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.74 MKD 356

$22.28 ¥149

-69.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 MKD 290

$2.80 ¥18.73

96.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.01 MKD 792

$13.44 ¥90.1

11.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 MKD 76.3

$2.07 ¥13.86

-29.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MKD 78.7

$1.06 ¥7.07

40.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 MKD 75.2

$0.70 ¥4.70

102.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MKD 98.0

$1.40 ¥9.40

32.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 MKD 45.51

$0.57 ¥3.83

50.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 MKD 41.35

$0.71 ¥4.76

9.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 MKD 34.18

$0.42 ¥2.83

54.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MKD 28.99

$0.53 ¥3.56

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 MKD 154

$2.89 ¥19.34

0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.62 MKD 244

$12.59 ¥84.4

-63.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 50.5

$0.68 ¥4.59

41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 MKD 78.5

$1.84 ¥12.34

-19.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MKD 40.14

$0.31 ¥2.08

145.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.30 MKD 1,335

$14.59 ¥97.8

73.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 MKD 40.92

$1.51 ¥10.12

-48.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 MKD 17.97

$0.41 ¥2.73

-17.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.04 MKD 424

$7.17 ¥48.03

12.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MKD 81.7

$1.20 ¥8.03

29.17%

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

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

$19.7K ¥131.9K

71.44%

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

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

$18.0K ¥120.7K

55.70%

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

$131 MKD 6,925

$40.98 ¥275

220.25%

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

$11.45 MKD 604

$9.96 ¥66.7

14.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.56 MKD 1,032

$12.77 ¥85.6

53.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.43 MKD 1,500

$66.8 ¥448

-57.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.65 MKD 1,089

$7.29 ¥48.86

183.26%

Cinema Ticket

$7.26 MKD 383

$6.06 ¥40.58

19.80%

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

$377 MKD 19.9K

$314 ¥2,106

19.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,491 MKD 289.8K

$13.5K ¥90.6K

-59.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.80 MKD 1,995

$47.55 ¥319

-20.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.20 MKD 1,963

$39.80 ¥267

-6.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 MKD 5,775

$59.1 ¥396

85.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 MKD 6,180

$74.6 ¥500

56.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 MKD 14.9K

$209 ¥1,397

35.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MKD 10.6K

$125 ¥839

60.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 MKD 24.4K

$377 ¥2,525

22.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 MKD 16.1K

$209 ¥1,403

45.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,572 MKD 82.9K

$2,486 ¥16.7K

-36.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 MKD 63.9K

$1,495 ¥10.0K

-18.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$903 MKD 47.7K

$964 ¥6,463

-6.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

3.4

25.00%

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

Last update for Gostivar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zhongshan: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Gostivar and $209 in Zhongshan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhongshan pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $29.00 in Gostivar vs $24.00 in Zhongshan. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $231, with Gostivar 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 Zhongshan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zhongshan wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Gostivar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zhongshan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Zhongshan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Gostivar versus $209 in Zhongshan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $863 per month in Gostivar versus $689 in Zhongshan – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Zhongshan runs roughly 73% less than in Gostivar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Zhongshan 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.

Expats usually find Zhongshan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Gostivar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.