🙂A single person spends $774 per month in Stip vs $885 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,153 per month in Stip vs $1,299 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,532 per month in Stip vs $1,713 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
🙂Stip is about 13% cheaper than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Stip and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median – Stip42% lower, Sveti Nikole34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.80MKD 311
$5.66MKD 303
2.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.99MKD 858
$27.68MKD 1,485
-42.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95MKD 265
$5.13MKD 275
-3.51%
Cappuccino
$1.98MKD 106
$1.71MKD 91.9
15.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76MKD 94.4
$1.61MKD 86.3
9.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 66.0
$1.23MKD 66.2
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29MKD 123
$2.32MKD 124
-1.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65MKD 142
$2.74MKD 147
-3.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MKD 71.1
$1.25MKD 66.8
6.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67MKD 36.06
$0.73MKD 39.37
-8.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12MKD 59.9
$1.69MKD 90.7
-33.73%
Eggs
$2.03MKD 109
$2.04MKD 110
-0.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.33MKD 554
$8.56MKD 459
20.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.34MKD 394
$6.33MKD 339
15.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.50MKD 402
$13.78MKD 739
-45.57%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90MKD 48.50
$1.07MKD 57.4
-15.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MKD 73.9
$1.37MKD 73.6
0.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MKD 70.2
$1.25MKD 67.0
4.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63MKD 87.4
$1.63MKD 87.5
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.99MKD 52.9
$0.95MKD 50.8
4.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37MKD 73.7
$0.91MKD 48.76
50.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58MKD 31.00
$0.61MKD 32.50
-4.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41MKD 21.99
$0.54MKD 28.75
-24.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95MKD 158
$3.07MKD 165
-3.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60MKD 408
$6.62MKD 355
14.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99MKD 53.1
$0.96MKD 51.4
3.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79MKD 95.9
$1.52MKD 81.6
17.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64MKD 34.33
$0.64MKD 34.09
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.79MKD 1,062
$20.57MKD 1,103
-3.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16MKD 62.1
$1.34MKD 72.0
-13.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53MKD 28.36
$0.50MKD 26.71
6.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.61MKD 301
$6.69MKD 359
-16.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MKD 79.9
$1.42MKD 76.1
4.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KMKD 1.7M
$31.7KMKD 1.7M
0.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
$29.5KMKD 1.6M
16.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147MKD 7,908
$146MKD 7,851
0.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.36MKD 502
$17.61MKD 944
-46.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.45MKD 829
$15.28MKD 820
1.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.94MKD 1,499
$26.21MKD 1,406
6.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.75MKD 255
$4.58MKD 246
3.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$219MKD 11.7K
$223MKD 12.0K
-1.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,186MKD 63.6K
$1,208MKD 64.8K
-1.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.87MKD 1,978
$76.2MKD 4,085
-51.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.76MKD 1,704
$40.34MKD 2,164
-21.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.4MKD 4,046
$76.0MKD 4,079
-0.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114MKD 6,101
$113MKD 6,050
0.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$209MKD 11.2K
$280MKD 15.0K
-25.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133MKD 7,145
$193MKD 10.3K
-30.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$338MKD 18.1K
$573MKD 30.7K
-41.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$203MKD 10.9K
$305MKD 16.4K
-33.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,228MKD 65.9K
$1,602MKD 85.9K
-23.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$988MKD 53.0K
$1,274MKD 68.3K
-22.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$463MKD 24.8K
$561MKD 30.1K
-17.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
4.54
56.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stip: July 13, 2026
Last update for Sveti Nikole: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $209 in Stip versus $280 in Sveti Nikole. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 21% higher in Sveti Nikole, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Stip versus $28.00 in Sveti Nikole. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $195 – making Stip the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Stip vs Sveti Nikole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sveti Nikole cheaper than Stip?
Yes – Sveti Nikole is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,161 per month in Stip and $1,327 in Sveti Nikole. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stip, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Stip or in Sveti Nikole?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Stip and $28.00 in Sveti Nikole. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Stip and in Sveti Nikole?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $774 in Stip and $885 in Sveti Nikole. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 enough for either Stip or Sveti Nikole?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $774 in Stip and $885 in Sveti Nikole, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Stip or Sveti Nikole more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stip – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Stip or Sveti Nikole?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Stip. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sveti Nikole makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.