Cost of Living Comparison Between Prilep and Bitola Cost of Living Comparison Between Prilep and Bitola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $745 in Prilep versus $880 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,134 in Prilep versus $1,333 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,523 in Prilep versus $1,787 in Bitola.

Living in Prilep costs roughly 15% less than in Bitola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Prilep 44% lower, Bitola 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.03 MKD 217
$5.56 MKD 299
-27.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.76 MKD 1,493
$28.29 MKD 1,521
-1.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.74 MKD 308
$5.14 MKD 277
11.67%
Cappuccino
$1.46 MKD 78.6
$1.91 MKD 103
-23.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MKD 90.2
$1.76 MKD 94.5
-4.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 MKD 69.1
$1.26 MKD 67.9
2.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 MKD 84.1
$2.23 MKD 120
-30.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 MKD 111
$2.74 MKD 147
-24.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 MKD 65.9
$1.35 MKD 72.5
-8.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 MKD 39.93
$0.68 MKD 36.41
8.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 MKD 85.7
$1.76 MKD 94.7
-9.66%
Eggs
$2.11 MKD 114
$2.01 MKD 108
4.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.18 MKD 386
$10.03 MKD 540
-28.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.78 MKD 311
$7.39 MKD 398
-21.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.90 MKD 532
$13.74 MKD 739
-27.95%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 MKD 46.17
$1.07 MKD 57.3
-19.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 MKD 72.9
$1.39 MKD 74.6
-2.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 MKD 52.3
$1.26 MKD 67.9
-23.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 MKD 78.8
$1.62 MKD 87.2
-9.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 MKD 47.76
$0.94 MKD 50.5
-5.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 MKD 51.8
$1.35 MKD 72.4
-28.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 MKD 32.54
$0.58 MKD 31.26
5.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 MKD 23.66
$0.56 MKD 30.17
-21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 MKD 165
$2.94 MKD 158
4.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.75 MKD 256
$6.16 MKD 331
-22.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 MKD 48.89
$1.00 MKD 53.7
-9.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 MKD 65.9
$1.89 MKD 102
-35.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 MKD 19.78
$0.57 MKD 30.67
-35.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.81 MKD 1,012
$16.81 MKD 904
11.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 MKD 51.5
$1.16 MKD 62.4
-17.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 MKD 26.61
$0.49 MKD 26.37
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 MKD 346
$6.52 MKD 350
-1.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MKD 77.7
$1.48 MKD 79.4
-2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K MKD 1.8M
$32.1K MKD 1.7M
7.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K MKD 1.6M
$33.5K MKD 1.8M
-11.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 MKD 6,888
$143 MKD 7,702
-10.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.38 MKD 934
$17.64 MKD 949
-1.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.24 MKD 766
$15.37 MKD 827
-7.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.21 MKD 925
$24.06 MKD 1,294
-28.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.53 MKD 297
$6.73 MKD 362
-17.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.28 MKD 284
$4.77 MKD 257
10.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 MKD 15.1K
$221 MKD 11.9K
27.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,212 MKD 65.2K
$1,221 MKD 65.6K
-0.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.44 MKD 2,282
$77.2 MKD 4,149
-45.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.97 MKD 2,042
$47.66 MKD 2,563
-20.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.7 MKD 4,018
$75.5 MKD 4,058
-0.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.1 MKD 5,112
$114 MKD 6,141
-16.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 MKD 12.8K
$282 MKD 15.1K
-15.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 MKD 9,301
$194 MKD 10.4K
-10.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$512 MKD 27.5K
$597 MKD 32.1K
-14.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 MKD 15.1K
$315 MKD 16.9K
-10.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,044 MKD 56.1K
$1,698 MKD 91.3K
-38.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$827 MKD 44.5K
$1,179 MKD 63.4K
-29.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$609 MKD 32.7K
$762 MKD 41.0K
-20.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.54
7.1
-36.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Prilep: July 26, 2026

Last update for Bitola: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Prilep and $282 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 25% 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 Prilep vs $28.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $167 vs $206 per month, with Prilep 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
Prilep vs Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Prilep and in Bitola?
Prilep and Bitola differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($745 vs $880 including rent). Prilep 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 25% 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 Prilep and in Bitola?
Rent for a central apartment: $237 in Prilep 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 23% 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 Prilep – 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 $800 go in Prilep compared to Bitola?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Prilep 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 Prilep 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 Prilep or Bitola safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Prilep 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: Prilep or Bitola?
Expats usually find Prilep gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Prilep vs other spots: cost of living compared

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