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: $759 in Prilep versus $883 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,145 in Prilep versus $1,337 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,531 in Prilep versus $1,790 in Bitola.

Living in Prilep costs roughly 14% 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
$4.15 MKD 220
$5.51 MKD 292
-24.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.80 MKD 1,475
$27.91 MKD 1,481
-0.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 MKD 307
$5.11 MKD 271
13.31%
Cappuccino
$1.53 MKD 81.4
$1.96 MKD 104
-21.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MKD 88.1
$1.72 MKD 91.2
-3.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MKD 65.1
$1.29 MKD 68.2
-4.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.57 MKD 83.2
$2.20 MKD 117
-28.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 MKD 108
$2.77 MKD 147
-26.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 MKD 65.3
$1.40 MKD 74.3
-12.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 MKD 37.88
$0.68 MKD 35.86
4.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 MKD 84.7
$1.71 MKD 90.6
-6.43%
Eggs
$2.13 MKD 113
$2.04 MKD 108
4.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.96 MKD 369
$10.25 MKD 544
-32.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 MKD 308
$7.28 MKD 386
-20.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.91 MKD 526
$13.75 MKD 730
-27.93%
Apples (1kg)
$0.93 MKD 49.26
$1.03 MKD 54.7
-9.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MKD 75.8
$1.43 MKD 75.8
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 MKD 53.4
$1.30 MKD 69.1
-22.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 MKD 81.6
$1.63 MKD 86.7
-5.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 MKD 42.90
$0.91 MKD 48.37
-10.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 MKD 49.68
$1.34 MKD 71.3
-29.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 MKD 32.66
$0.58 MKD 30.88
6.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 MKD 23.44
$0.52 MKD 27.85
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03 MKD 161
$3.00 MKD 159
1.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.71 MKD 250
$5.94 MKD 315
-20.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 MKD 51.0
$0.94 MKD 49.99
2.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 MKD 62.8
$1.88 MKD 99.7
-37.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 MKD 21.15
$0.54 MKD 28.91
-25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.45 MKD 979
$16.73 MKD 888
10.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 MKD 50.8
$1.12 MKD 59.3
-14.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MKD 26.44
$0.50 MKD 26.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 MKD 345
$6.74 MKD 357
-3.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MKD 80.2
$1.43 MKD 75.8
5.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K MKD 1.8M
$32.0K MKD 1.7M
3.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K MKD 1.6M
$34.0K MKD 1.8M
-11.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$129 MKD 6,823
$145 MKD 7,695
-11.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.62 MKD 935
$17.86 MKD 948
-1.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.31 MKD 760
$15.58 MKD 826
-8.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.83 MKD 893
$24.59 MKD 1,305
-31.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.79 MKD 307
$6.49 MKD 344
-10.79%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30 MKD 281
$4.84 MKD 257
9.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$284 MKD 15.1K
$219 MKD 11.6K
29.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,179 MKD 62.6K
$1,214 MKD 64.4K
-2.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.69 MKD 2,212
$76.2 MKD 4,042
-45.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38 MKD 1,983
$48.94 MKD 2,597
-23.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.4 MKD 3,946
$75.6 MKD 4,013
-1.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.8 MKD 4,979
$113 MKD 6,013
-17.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 MKD 12.6K
$285 MKD 15.1K
-16.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 MKD 9,229
$198 MKD 10.5K
-12.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$511 MKD 27.1K
$591 MKD 31.4K
-13.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$285 MKD 15.1K
$316 MKD 16.7K
-9.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,059 MKD 56.2K
$1,726 MKD 91.6K
-38.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$833 MKD 44.2K
$1,188 MKD 63.0K
-29.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prilep
Bitola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$607 MKD 32.2K
$785 MKD 41.6K
-22.60%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Bitola: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Prilep and $285 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 29% 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 $168 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 Bitola?
Prilep and Bitola differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($759 vs $883 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, Bitola earns 29% 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 Prilep and Bitola?
Rent for a central apartment: $237 in Prilep 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 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 vs 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 16% 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

Similar cities