🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $815 in Kumanovo versus $882 in Bitola.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Kumanovo versus $1,326 in Bitola.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,547 in Kumanovo versus $1,771 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, Bitola36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71MKD 357
$5.57MKD 296
20.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.61MKD 1,522
$27.82MKD 1,479
2.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.81MKD 362
$5.38MKD 286
26.58%
Cappuccino
$1.51MKD 80.1
$2.01MKD 107
-24.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MKD 75.8
$1.77MKD 94.1
-19.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10MKD 58.2
$1.48MKD 78.5
-25.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58MKD 84.3
$2.19MKD 116
-27.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MKD 93.2
$2.61MKD 139
-32.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26MKD 67.2
$1.36MKD 72.3
-7.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.75
$0.70MKD 37.23
1.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MKD 102
$1.75MKD 93.3
9.14%
Eggs
$2.42MKD 129
$2.00MKD 106
21.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.59MKD 457
$10.37MKD 552
-17.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.62MKD 405
$7.31MKD 389
4.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.84MKD 630
$13.45MKD 715
-11.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01MKD 53.6
$1.03MKD 54.8
-1.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MKD 73.9
$1.38MKD 73.5
0.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MKD 71.8
$1.30MKD 69.0
3.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.78MKD 94.7
$1.54MKD 82.1
15.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84MKD 44.81
$0.91MKD 48.14
-7.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MKD 42.65
$1.37MKD 72.9
-41.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55MKD 28.99
$0.57MKD 30.35
-3.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MKD 31.10
$0.50MKD 26.83
16.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06MKD 163
$3.35MKD 178
-8.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.66MKD 407
$5.91MKD 314
29.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MKD 55.2
$0.99MKD 52.5
5.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03MKD 55.0
$1.85MKD 98.6
-44.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MKD 28.48
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$16.70MKD 888
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11MKD 59.1
$1.15MKD 61.2
-3.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63MKD 33.36
$0.63MKD 33.60
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.00MKD 319
$6.44MKD 343
-6.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42MKD 75.5
$1.46MKD 77.9
-2.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KMKD 1.9M
$32.4KMKD 1.7M
11.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8KMKD 1.5M
$34.5KMKD 1.8M
-16.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132MKD 7,008
$152MKD 8,088
-13.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.20MKD 914
$14.81MKD 787
16.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.59MKD 1,042
$13.25MKD 705
47.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.45MKD 1,513
$21.99MKD 1,169
29.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47MKD 982
$6.53MKD 347
182.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.55MKD 295
$4.65MKD 247
19.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$369MKD 19.6K
$218MKD 11.6K
69.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,807MKD 308.8K
$1,181MKD 62.8K
391.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.36MKD 2,359
$76.9MKD 4,090
-42.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.66MKD 1,099
$47.90MKD 2,548
-56.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0MKD 4,518
$76.3MKD 4,060
11.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.8MKD 2,701
$112MKD 5,958
-54.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$248MKD 13.2K
$266MKD 14.1K
-6.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$202MKD 10.7K
$195MKD 10.3K
3.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435MKD 23.2K
$415MKD 22.1K
4.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248MKD 13.2K
$301MKD 16.0K
-17.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,641MKD 87.2K
$1,774MKD 94.3K
-7.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,488MKD 79.1K
$1,204MKD 64.0K
23.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$570MKD 30.3K
$780MKD 41.5K
-26.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
6.45
-37.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kumanovo: September 13, 2026
Last update for Bitola: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $248 in Kumanovo and $266 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bitola pays 37% 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 $200 vs $204, 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 in Bitola?
Kumanovo and Bitola differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($815 vs $882 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 37% 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: $248 in Kumanovo versus $266 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 2% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kumanovo or Bitola?
All in, you'll spend $815 per month in Kumanovo versus $882 in Bitola – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
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 8% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.