Cost of Living Comparison Between Strumica and Bitola Cost of Living Comparison Between Strumica and Bitola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $864 in Strumica versus $880 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,243 in Strumica versus $1,333 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,621 in Strumica versus $1,787 in Bitola.

Living in Strumica costs roughly 2% less than in Bitola, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Strumica 35% lower, Bitola 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 MKD 195

$5.56 MKD 297

-34.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.65 MKD 1,531

$28.29 MKD 1,512

1.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.03 MKD 269

$5.14 MKD 275

-2.14%

Cappuccino

$1.73 MKD 92.3

$1.91 MKD 102

-9.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MKD 81.1

$1.76 MKD 94.0

-13.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MKD 62.0

$1.26 MKD 67.5

-7.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 MKD 99.6

$2.23 MKD 119

-16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 MKD 120

$2.74 MKD 146

-18.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MKD 72.5

$1.35 MKD 72.0

0.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 38.53

$0.68 MKD 36.18

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 MKD 95.4

$1.76 MKD 94.1

1.14%

Eggs

$2.08 MKD 111

$2.01 MKD 108

3.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 MKD 553

$10.03 MKD 536

3.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 MKD 331

$7.39 MKD 395

-16.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.37 MKD 554

$13.74 MKD 734

-24.53%

Apples (1kg)

$0.65 MKD 34.70

$1.07 MKD 57.0

-39.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 74.2

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 MKD 64.7

$1.26 MKD 67.4

-3.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 87.3

$1.62 MKD 86.7

0.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 MKD 46.65

$0.94 MKD 50.2

-7.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 MKD 46.81

$1.35 MKD 72.0

-34.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 MKD 30.55

$0.58 MKD 31.07

-1.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 29.97

$0.56 MKD 29.99

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 MKD 149

$2.94 MKD 157

-5.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.43 MKD 290

$6.16 MKD 329

-11.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 51.3

$1.00 MKD 53.4

-4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 MKD 64.6

$1.89 MKD 101

-35.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MKD 40.81

$0.57 MKD 30.48

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.46 MKD 1,094

$16.81 MKD 899

21.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 MKD 59.7

$1.16 MKD 62.0

-3.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.37

$0.49 MKD 26.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 MKD 346

$6.52 MKD 348

-0.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 76.4

$1.48 MKD 79.0

-3.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.5K MKD 1.7M

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

-1.88%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

0.07%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$146 MKD 7,793

$143 MKD 7,654

1.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.21 MKD 706

$17.64 MKD 943

-25.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.52 MKD 830

$15.37 MKD 822

0.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.37 MKD 1,089

$24.06 MKD 1,286

-15.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.73 MKD 360

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 MKD 247

$4.77 MKD 255

-2.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$215 MKD 11.5K

$221 MKD 11.8K

-2.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,201 MKD 64.2K

$1,221 MKD 65.2K

-1.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 MKD 4,080

$77.2 MKD 4,124

-1.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.06 MKD 2,515

$47.66 MKD 2,547

-1.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 MKD 4,047

$75.5 MKD 4,033

0.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 MKD 5,089

$114 MKD 6,103

-16.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 MKD 17.3K

$282 MKD 15.1K

14.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 MKD 12.7K

$194 MKD 10.4K

22.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 MKD 27.3K

$597 MKD 31.9K

-14.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 MKD 16.2K

$315 MKD 16.8K

-3.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,474 MKD 78.8K

$1,698 MKD 90.7K

-13.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$996 MKD 53.2K

$1,179 MKD 63.0K

-15.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 MKD 34.9K

$762 MKD 40.7K

-14.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

-43.66%

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

Last update for Strumica: July 26, 2026

Last update for Bitola: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $323 in Strumica and $282 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 17% 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 Strumica vs $28.00 in Bitola. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $206, with Strumica cheaper for home cooking.

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

Strumica vs Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Strumica and Bitola differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($864 vs $880 including rent). Strumica is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 17% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $323 in Strumica versus $282 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Strumica – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $28.00 in Bitola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Strumica gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Strumica 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.

Expats usually find Strumica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.