🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $811 in Kumanovo versus $883 in Bitola.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Kumanovo versus $1,337 in Bitola.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,540 in Kumanovo versus $1,790 in Bitola.
🙂Living in Kumanovo costs roughly 8% less than in Bitola, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kumanovo40% lower, Bitola34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.62MKD 298
$5.51MKD 292
2.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.54MKD 1,514
$27.91MKD 1,481
2.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01MKD 266
$5.11MKD 271
-1.96%
Cappuccino
$1.58MKD 84.0
$1.96MKD 104
-19.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MKD 87.9
$1.72MKD 91.2
-3.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MKD 60.8
$1.29MKD 68.2
-10.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56MKD 82.7
$2.20MKD 117
-29.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76MKD 93.6
$2.77MKD 147
-36.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25MKD 66.1
$1.40MKD 74.3
-10.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67MKD 35.35
$0.68MKD 35.86
-1.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76MKD 93.4
$1.71MKD 90.6
2.92%
Eggs
$2.11MKD 112
$2.04MKD 108
3.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.18MKD 381
$10.25MKD 544
-29.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.28MKD 386
$7.28MKD 386
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.43MKD 607
$13.75MKD 730
-16.87%
Apples(1kg)
$0.64MKD 33.76
$1.03MKD 54.7
-37.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MKD 72.7
$1.43MKD 75.8
-4.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27MKD 67.1
$1.30MKD 69.1
-2.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.06MKD 56.3
$1.63MKD 86.7
-34.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94MKD 49.81
$0.91MKD 48.37
3.30%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77MKD 40.97
$1.34MKD 71.3
-42.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54MKD 28.76
$0.58MKD 30.88
-6.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MKD 27.36
$0.52MKD 27.85
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06MKD 163
$3.00MKD 159
2.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.37MKD 391
$5.94MKD 315
24.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99MKD 52.3
$0.94MKD 49.99
5.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09MKD 57.7
$1.88MKD 99.7
-42.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MKD 36.04
$0.54MKD 28.91
25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.80MKD 1,050
$16.73MKD 888
18.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11MKD 58.9
$1.12MKD 59.3
-0.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53MKD 28.32
$0.50MKD 26.48
6.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.76MKD 359
$6.74MKD 357
0.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 78.1
$1.43MKD 75.8
2.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KMKD 1.7M
$32.0KMKD 1.7M
-0.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
$34.0KMKD 1.8M
-1.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120MKD 6,387
$145MKD 7,695
-17.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.92MKD 898
$17.86MKD 948
-5.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.39MKD 816
$15.58MKD 826
-1.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.98MKD 1,007
$24.59MKD 1,305
-22.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.49MKD 344
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.83MKD 256
$4.84MKD 257
-0.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$220MKD 11.7K
$219MKD 11.6K
0.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,180MKD 62.6K
$1,214MKD 64.4K
-2.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.25MKD 2,030
$76.2MKD 4,042
-49.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.45MKD 2,518
$48.94MKD 2,597
-3.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.0MKD 3,927
$75.6MKD 4,013
-2.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.41MKD 2,463
$113MKD 6,013
-59.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261MKD 13.8K
$285MKD 15.1K
-8.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$207MKD 11.0K
$198MKD 10.5K
4.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$559MKD 29.7K
$591MKD 31.4K
-5.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$314MKD 16.7K
$316MKD 16.7K
-0.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,652MKD 87.7K
$1,726MKD 91.6K
-4.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475MKD 78.3K
$1,188MKD 63.0K
24.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$578MKD 30.6K
$785MKD 41.6K
-26.41%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Bitola: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Kumanovo and $285 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bitola pays 36% 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: $29.00 in Kumanovo vs $28.00 in Bitola. Groceries flip the comparison at $183 vs $206, with Kumanovo 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
Kumanovo vs Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kumanovo and Bitola?
Kumanovo and Bitola differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($811 vs $883 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, Bitola earns 36% less. 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 Bitola?
Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Kumanovo versus $285 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 12% 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 $29.00 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 vs 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.