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: $816 in Gostivar versus $647 in Zhongshan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,209 in Gostivar versus $1,008 in Zhongshan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,602 in Gostivar versus $1,368 in Zhongshan.

Living in Gostivar is roughly 26% more expensive than Zhongshan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar 39% lower, Zhongshan 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.02 MKD 262

$2.71 ¥18.49

85.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.20 MKD 1,213

$16.90 ¥115

37.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.03 MKD 263

$4.26 ¥29.10

18.08%

Cappuccino

$1.37 MKD 71.6

$2.83 ¥19.31

-51.59%

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

$1.16 MKD 60.4

$0.41 ¥2.77

182.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MKD 58.0

$0.29 ¥1.99

282.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 MKD 72.9

$0.73 ¥4.96

90.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 MKD 99.5

$1.66 ¥11.33

14.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.0

$1.73 ¥11.83

-22.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 37.64

$1.80 ¥12.27

-60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 MKD 79.7

$0.96 ¥6.58

58.33%

Eggs

$2.08 MKD 109

$1.64 ¥11.20

26.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.47 MKD 339

$12.73 ¥87.0

-49.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 MKD 303

$2.62 ¥17.92

120.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 MKD 697

$12.46 ¥85.1

6.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 MKD 56.3

$1.88 ¥12.87

-42.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 MKD 74.5

$0.94 ¥6.42

51.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 MKD 69.0

$0.65 ¥4.42

103.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 85.0

$1.32 ¥9.04

23.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 MKD 50.6

$0.50 ¥3.42

94.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 MKD 37.92

$0.71 ¥4.87

2.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 MKD 30.02

$0.37 ¥2.50

54.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MKD 28.00

$0.51 ¥3.48

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 MKD 151

$2.83 ¥19.30

1.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.70 MKD 246

$14.39 ¥98.3

-67.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MKD 50.7

$0.61 ¥4.15

59.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 MKD 80.7

$1.84 ¥12.58

-16.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 MKD 33.72

$0.27 ¥1.84

137.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.22 MKD 1,058

$13.73 ¥93.8

47.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MKD 50.3

$1.27 ¥8.67

-24.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MKD 18.55

$0.34 ¥2.35

2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.68 MKD 349

$6.88 ¥46.98

-2.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MKD 75.2

$1.18 ¥8.05

22.03%

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

$31.5K MKD 1.6M

$22.6K ¥154.7K

39.09%

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

$46.8K MKD 2.4M

$20.0K ¥136.9K

133.69%

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

$132 MKD 6,882

$38.37 ¥262

242.92%

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

$11.23 MKD 588

$8.22 ¥56.1

36.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.29 MKD 800

$12.01 ¥82.1

27.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.53 MKD 1,387

$62.8 ¥429

-57.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.92 ¥47.24

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 MKD 251

$5.54 ¥37.83

-13.54%

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

$222 MKD 11.6K

$294 ¥2,008

-24.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,185 MKD 62.0K

$12.8K ¥87.3K

-90.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.47 MKD 1,960

$43.57 ¥298

-14.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.82 MKD 1,978

$30.32 ¥207

24.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 MKD 3,873

$56.5 ¥386

30.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,784

$70.9 ¥484

55.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MKD 14.8K

$194 ¥1,326

45.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 MKD 10.2K

$118 ¥807

64.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 MKD 29.2K

$346 ¥2,360

61.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MKD 16.2K

$198 ¥1,352

56.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,622 MKD 84.9K

$2,432 ¥16.6K

-33.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,195 MKD 62.5K

$1,450 ¥9,906

-17.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 MKD 47.9K

$843 ¥5,760

8.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

3.83

69.71%

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

Last update for Gostivar: April 13, 2026

Last update for Zhongshan: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Gostivar and $194 in Zhongshan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23 in Gostivar vs $17 in Zhongshan. Groceries flip the comparison at $181 vs $205, 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 26% 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.

Gostivar pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Gostivar versus $194 in Zhongshan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $816 per month in Gostivar versus $647 in Zhongshan – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Zhongshan runs roughly 47% 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 26% less than in Gostivar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.