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: $796 in Gostivar versus $638 in Zhongshan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,194 in Gostivar versus $1,007 in Zhongshan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,593 in Gostivar versus $1,376 in Zhongshan.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Gostivar 41% lower, Zhongshan 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.14 MKD 271

$2.76 ¥18.66

86.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.16 MKD 1,219

$16.90 ¥114

37.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 MKD 271

$4.09 ¥27.71

25.92%

Cappuccino

$1.38 MKD 72.9

$2.73 ¥18.48

-49.45%

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

$1.15 MKD 60.4

$0.41 ¥2.77

180.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 MKD 57.8

$0.27 ¥1.82

307.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 MKD 73.4

$0.72 ¥4.91

93.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 MKD 101

$1.72 ¥11.64

11.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 MKD 71.1

$1.82 ¥12.32

-25.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 MKD 35.20

$1.78 ¥12.06

-62.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MKD 78.2

$0.90 ¥6.12

65.56%

Eggs

$2.03 MKD 107

$1.56 ¥10.60

30.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 MKD 348

$12.82 ¥86.8

-48.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.58 MKD 294

$2.71 ¥18.32

105.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.60 MKD 716

$12.55 ¥85.0

8.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 54.3

$1.87 ¥12.66

-44.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 73.4

$0.93 ¥6.30

49.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 MKD 66.3

$0.62 ¥4.18

103.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 MKD 83.7

$1.34 ¥9.06

18.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 MKD 48.78

$0.53 ¥3.59

75.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 MKD 40.84

$0.71 ¥4.83

9.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 MKD 28.94

$0.40 ¥2.68

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MKD 28.43

$0.51 ¥3.45

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 MKD 148

$2.71 ¥18.34

3.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.81 MKD 253

$13.12 ¥88.9

-63.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 MKD 51.8

$0.60 ¥4.09

63.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 MKD 78.2

$1.83 ¥12.36

-18.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MKD 36.33

$0.29 ¥1.98

137.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.48 MKD 1,078

$13.73 ¥93.0

49.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MKD 47.88

$1.26 ¥8.54

-27.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MKD 17.24

$0.38 ¥2.55

-13.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 MKD 343

$6.74 ¥45.65

-3.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MKD 79.0

$1.17 ¥7.90

28.21%

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

$31.5K MKD 1.7M

$22.7K ¥153.7K

38.90%

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

$46.3K MKD 2.4M

$20.4K ¥138.4K

126.79%

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

$133 MKD 6,991

$38.52 ¥261

244.73%

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

$11.41 MKD 601

$8.47 ¥57.4

34.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.53 MKD 818

$11.90 ¥80.6

30.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.77 MKD 1,410

$63.5 ¥430

-57.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.12 ¥48.22

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 MKD 251

$5.41 ¥36.65

-11.65%

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

$216 MKD 11.4K

$296 ¥2,005

-26.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,182 MKD 62.2K

$12.7K ¥86.1K

-90.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.45 MKD 1,972

$44.75 ¥303

-16.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.17 MKD 2,010

$31.02 ¥210

23.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 MKD 3,993

$55.1 ¥373

37.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,833

$70.1 ¥475

57.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MKD 14.9K

$197 ¥1,332

43.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 MKD 10.1K

$117 ¥793

64.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 MKD 29.1K

$343 ¥2,320

61.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MKD 16.3K

$196 ¥1,327

57.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,657 MKD 87.3K

$2,454 ¥16.6K

-32.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,289 MKD 67.8K

$1,479 ¥10.0K

-12.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$888 MKD 46.7K

$964 ¥6,527

-7.87%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Zhongshan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Gostivar and $197 in Zhongshan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhongshan pays 9% 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 $17.00 in Zhongshan. Groceries flip the comparison at $180 vs $203, 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, Zhongshan earns 9% less. 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: $283 in Gostivar versus $197 in Zhongshan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $796 per month in Gostivar versus $638 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 49% 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.