🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $789 in Kumanovo versus $892 in Bitola.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Kumanovo versus $1,346 in Bitola.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,543 in Kumanovo versus $1,800 in Bitola.
🙂Living in Kumanovo costs roughly 12% less than in Bitola, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kumanovo41% lower, Bitola33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.73MKD 302
$5.49MKD 290
4.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.55MKD 1,505
$28.66MKD 1,511
-0.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97MKD 262
$5.13MKD 271
-3.12%
Cappuccino
$1.59MKD 84.0
$1.96MKD 104
-18.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59MKD 84.0
$1.79MKD 94.4
-11.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MKD 61.0
$1.23MKD 65.0
-5.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55MKD 82.0
$2.29MKD 121
-32.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74MKD 91.6
$2.67MKD 141
-34.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32MKD 69.4
$1.41MKD 74.2
-6.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62MKD 32.61
$0.68MKD 36.10
-8.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78MKD 93.9
$1.71MKD 90.2
4.09%
Eggs
$2.09MKD 110
$2.05MKD 108
1.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.93MKD 365
$10.40MKD 548
-33.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.28MKD 384
$7.38MKD 389
-1.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.40MKD 601
$13.35MKD 704
-14.61%
Apples(1kg)
$0.63MKD 33.12
$1.02MKD 53.9
-38.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MKD 72.8
$1.38MKD 72.6
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30MKD 68.4
$1.27MKD 66.9
2.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.06MKD 55.7
$1.55MKD 81.9
-31.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98MKD 51.5
$0.97MKD 51.3
1.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78MKD 41.31
$1.34MKD 70.6
-41.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55MKD 28.75
$0.57MKD 30.22
-3.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MKD 27.68
$0.54MKD 28.22
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05MKD 161
$3.04MKD 160
0.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48MKD 394
$6.03MKD 318
24.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01MKD 53.4
$0.92MKD 48.78
9.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04MKD 55.1
$1.79MKD 94.5
-41.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67MKD 35.44
$0.54MKD 28.70
24.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.99MKD 1,054
$17.24MKD 909
15.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MKD 60.8
$1.10MKD 57.9
4.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.98
$0.52MKD 27.44
-5.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.61MKD 349
$6.67MKD 352
-0.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MKD 76.2
$1.47MKD 77.6
-1.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KMKD 1.7M
$31.8KMKD 1.7M
1.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
$33.2KMKD 1.8M
3.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122MKD 6,414
$148MKD 7,782
-17.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.71MKD 881
$17.55MKD 925
-4.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.80MKD 833
$15.32MKD 808
3.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.13MKD 1,009
$24.06MKD 1,269
-20.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.70MKD 353
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.77MKD 252
$4.77MKD 252
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$217MKD 11.4K
$216MKD 11.4K
0.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,184MKD 62.4K
$1,195MKD 63.0K
-0.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.07MKD 2,008
$76.2MKD 4,015
-50.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.60MKD 2,510
$48.40MKD 2,552
-1.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.5MKD 3,876
$76.5MKD 4,032
-3.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.89MKD 2,525
$112MKD 5,903
-57.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258MKD 13.6K
$284MKD 15.0K
-9.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213MKD 11.2K
$198MKD 10.4K
7.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557MKD 29.4K
$592MKD 31.2K
-5.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$311MKD 16.4K
$313MKD 16.5K
-0.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,676MKD 88.4K
$1,796MKD 94.7K
-6.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502MKD 79.2K
$1,203MKD 63.4K
24.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumanovo
Bitola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$585MKD 30.8K
$788MKD 41.6K
-25.83%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bitola: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Kumanovo and $284 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bitola pays 35% 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 $29.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $205 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 Bitola?
Kumanovo and Bitola differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($789 vs $892 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 35% 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: $258 in Kumanovo versus $284 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 $29.00 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 13% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.