🙂A single person spends $778 per month in Stip vs $887 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,138 per month in Stip vs $1,323 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,497 per month in Stip vs $1,759 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
🙂Stip is about 12% 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
$5.74MKD 302
$5.74MKD 302
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.11MKD 849
$28.63MKD 1,509
-43.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.92MKD 259
$5.21MKD 275
-5.57%
Cappuccino
$1.89MKD 99.4
$1.73MKD 91.4
9.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74MKD 92.0
$1.67MKD 88.3
4.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21MKD 64.0
$1.26MKD 66.5
-3.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21MKD 117
$2.20MKD 116
0.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79MKD 147
$2.69MKD 142
3.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29MKD 67.9
$1.29MKD 68.1
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.68MKD 35.66
$0.71MKD 37.59
-4.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10MKD 58.2
$1.72MKD 90.7
-36.05%
Eggs
$2.10MKD 111
$2.08MKD 110
0.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.32MKD 544
$8.30MKD 438
24.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.23MKD 381
$6.47MKD 341
11.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.43MKD 392
$13.33MKD 703
-44.26%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97MKD 51.2
$1.07MKD 56.5
-9.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MKD 75.6
$1.45MKD 76.2
-1.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MKD 69.0
$1.27MKD 66.7
3.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MKD 83.1
$1.58MKD 83.1
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.93MKD 48.85
$0.94MKD 49.70
-1.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39MKD 73.1
$0.99MKD 52.3
40.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53MKD 28.17
$0.62MKD 32.51
-14.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40MKD 21.30
$0.53MKD 27.75
-24.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05MKD 161
$3.06MKD 161
-0.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.49MKD 395
$6.48MKD 341
15.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01MKD 53.4
$1.01MKD 53.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81MKD 95.3
$1.46MKD 76.8
23.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63MKD 33.06
$0.65MKD 34.20
-3.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.52MKD 1,082
$20.07MKD 1,058
2.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10MKD 58.1
$1.29MKD 68.2
-14.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.84
$0.49MKD 25.87
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.61MKD 296
$6.44MKD 339
-12.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MKD 76.2
$1.43MKD 75.5
1.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KMKD 1.7M
$32.1KMKD 1.7M
-2.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
$30.0KMKD 1.6M
14.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144MKD 7,568
$145MKD 7,619
-0.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.23MKD 486
$17.35MKD 915
-46.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.31MKD 807
$15.43MKD 813
-0.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.83MKD 1,467
$26.73MKD 1,409
4.12%
Cinema Ticket
$4.74MKD 250
$4.60MKD 243
3.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216MKD 11.4K
$215MKD 11.4K
0.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,182MKD 62.3K
$1,226MKD 64.6K
-3.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.03MKD 2,004
$76.1MKD 4,009
-50.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.80MKD 1,676
$39.12MKD 2,061
-18.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.6MKD 3,933
$74.4MKD 3,922
0.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114MKD 6,013
$111MKD 5,860
2.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$207MKD 10.9K
$281MKD 14.8K
-26.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133MKD 7,008
$198MKD 10.4K
-32.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$344MKD 18.1K
$563MKD 29.7K
-38.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$204MKD 10.8K
$309MKD 16.3K
-33.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,257MKD 66.3K
$1,644MKD 86.6K
-23.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,026MKD 54.1K
$1,276MKD 67.3K
-19.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stip
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$467MKD 24.6K
$568MKD 29.9K
-17.88%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sveti Nikole: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $207 in Stip versus $281 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 22% 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 $29.00 in Sveti Nikole. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $194 – 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 $1,167 per month in Stip and $1,331 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 Sveti Nikole?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Stip and $29.00 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 vs Sveti Nikole?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $778 in Stip and $887 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 $778 in Stip and $887 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.