🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $808 in Kumanovo versus $880 in Bitola.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Kumanovo versus $1,333 in Bitola.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Kumanovo versus $1,787 in Bitola.
🌍Living in Kumanovo costs roughly 8% less than in Bitola, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kumanovo39% lower, Bitola34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.79MKD 310
$5.56MKD 297
4.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.75MKD 1,483
$28.29MKD 1,512
-1.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.12MKD 273
$5.14MKD 275
-0.39%
Cappuccino
$1.54MKD 82.5
$1.91MKD 102
-19.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MKD 86.6
$1.76MKD 94.0
-7.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MKD 61.8
$1.26MKD 67.5
-7.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58MKD 84.6
$2.23MKD 119
-29.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73MKD 92.7
$2.74MKD 146
-36.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26MKD 67.2
$1.35MKD 72.0
-6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62MKD 33.05
$0.68MKD 36.18
-8.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MKD 94.5
$1.76MKD 94.1
0.57%
Eggs
$2.09MKD 112
$2.01MKD 108
3.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.18MKD 384
$10.03MKD 536
-28.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.04MKD 376
$7.39MKD 395
-4.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.30MKD 604
$13.74MKD 734
-17.76%
Apples(1kg)
$0.68MKD 36.12
$1.07MKD 57.0
-36.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40MKD 74.7
$1.39MKD 74.2
0.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MKD 70.3
$1.26MKD 67.4
3.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09MKD 58.5
$1.62MKD 86.7
-32.72%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91MKD 48.58
$0.94MKD 50.2
-3.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72MKD 38.30
$1.35MKD 72.0
-46.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53MKD 28.40
$0.58MKD 31.07
-8.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49MKD 25.94
$0.56MKD 29.99
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99MKD 160
$2.94MKD 157
1.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.24MKD 387
$6.16MKD 329
17.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00MKD 53.6
$1.00MKD 53.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04MKD 55.5
$1.89MKD 101
-44.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67MKD 35.93
$0.57MKD 30.48
17.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.32MKD 1,086
$16.81MKD 899
20.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MKD 61.6
$1.16MKD 62.0
-0.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 26.40
$0.49MKD 26.21
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.40MKD 342
$6.52MKD 348
-1.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MKD 79.4
$1.48MKD 79.0
0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KMKD 1.7M
$32.1KMKD 1.7M
-2.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
$33.5KMKD 1.8M
2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121MKD 6,492
$143MKD 7,654
-15.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.67MKD 891
$17.64MKD 943
-5.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.61MKD 834
$15.37MKD 822
1.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.65MKD 996
$24.06MKD 1,286
-22.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.73MKD 360
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.76MKD 254
$4.77MKD 255
-0.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MKD 11.9K
$221MKD 11.8K
0.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,183MKD 63.2K
$1,221MKD 65.2K
-3.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.65MKD 2,012
$77.2MKD 4,124
-51.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.65MKD 2,600
$47.66MKD 2,547
2.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4MKD 3,978
$75.5MKD 4,033
-1.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.07MKD 2,462
$114MKD 6,103
-59.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260MKD 13.9K
$282MKD 15.1K
-7.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$208MKD 11.1K
$194MKD 10.4K
7.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$566MKD 30.2K
$597MKD 31.9K
-5.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$314MKD 16.8K
$315MKD 16.8K
-0.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,620MKD 86.6K
$1,698MKD 90.7K
-4.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,481MKD 79.1K
$1,179MKD 63.0K
25.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$581MKD 31.1K
$762MKD 40.7K
-23.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
7.1
-43.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kumanovo: July 28, 2026
Last update for Bitola: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Kumanovo and $282 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bitola pays 31% 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: $28.00 in Kumanovo vs $28.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $206 per month, with Kumanovo 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
Kumanovo vs Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kumanovo and in Bitola?
Kumanovo and Bitola differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($808 vs $880 including rent). Kumanovo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Bitola. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Kumanovo and in Bitola?
Rent for a central apartment: $260 in Kumanovo versus $282 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kumanovo – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $28.00 in Bitola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Kumanovo compared to Bitola?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kumanovo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Kumanovo and Bitola?
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.
Is Kumanovo or Bitola safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kumanovo and Bitola are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Kumanovo or Bitola?
Expats usually find Kumanovo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.