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: $889 in Strumica versus $892 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,282 in Strumica versus $1,346 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,674 in Strumica versus $1,800 in Bitola.

Monthly costs are close between Strumica and Bitola; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Strumica 34% lower, Bitola 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 MKD 193

$5.49 MKD 290

-33.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.37 MKD 1,496

$28.66 MKD 1,511

-1.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 MKD 263

$5.13 MKD 271

-2.73%

Cappuccino

$1.66 MKD 87.6

$1.96 MKD 104

-15.31%

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

$1.52 MKD 80.3

$1.79 MKD 94.4

-15.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MKD 60.7

$1.23 MKD 65.0

-6.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 MKD 101

$2.29 MKD 121

-16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 MKD 116

$2.67 MKD 141

-17.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 MKD 70.5

$1.41 MKD 74.2

-4.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 MKD 38.32

$0.68 MKD 36.10

7.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 MKD 94.2

$1.71 MKD 90.2

4.68%

Eggs

$2.04 MKD 108

$2.05 MKD 108

-0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.14 MKD 535

$10.40 MKD 548

-2.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.27 MKD 330

$7.38 MKD 389

-15.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 MKD 556

$13.35 MKD 704

-21.12%

Apples (1kg)

$0.64 MKD 33.64

$1.02 MKD 53.9

-37.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MKD 76.5

$1.38 MKD 72.6

5.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 MKD 63.1

$1.27 MKD 66.9

-5.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 MKD 86.8

$1.55 MKD 81.9

6.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 49.71

$0.97 MKD 51.3

-3.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 46.71

$1.34 MKD 70.6

-33.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 MKD 30.19

$0.57 MKD 30.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MKD 30.01

$0.54 MKD 28.22

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 MKD 145

$3.04 MKD 160

-9.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.56 MKD 293

$6.03 MKD 318

-7.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 MKD 48.11

$0.92 MKD 48.78

-1.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 MKD 63.3

$1.79 MKD 94.5

-32.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MKD 38.39

$0.54 MKD 28.70

35.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.98 MKD 1,053

$17.24 MKD 909

15.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MKD 61.0

$1.10 MKD 57.9

5.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.64

$0.52 MKD 27.44

-5.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 MKD 353

$6.67 MKD 352

0.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.2

$1.47 MKD 77.6

-2.72%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$31.8K MKD 1.7M

0.30%

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

$33.4K MKD 1.8M

$33.2K MKD 1.8M

0.74%

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

$146 MKD 7,703

$148 MKD 7,782

-1.02%

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

$13.29 MKD 701

$17.55 MKD 925

-24.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.59 MKD 822

$15.32 MKD 808

1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.90 MKD 1,102

$24.06 MKD 1,269

-13.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.70 MKD 353

Cinema Ticket

$4.74 MKD 250

$4.77 MKD 252

-0.63%

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

$219 MKD 11.6K

$216 MKD 11.4K

1.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,195 MKD 63.0K

0.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 MKD 4,099

$76.2 MKD 4,015

2.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.91 MKD 2,526

$48.40 MKD 2,552

-1.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 MKD 3,921

$76.5 MKD 4,032

-2.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 MKD 4,911

$112 MKD 5,903

-16.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 MKD 16.9K

$284 MKD 15.0K

12.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 MKD 12.9K

$198 MKD 10.4K

23.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 MKD 26.1K

$592 MKD 31.2K

-16.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 MKD 16.1K

$313 MKD 16.5K

-2.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,546 MKD 81.5K

$1,796 MKD 94.7K

-13.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,009 MKD 53.2K

$1,203 MKD 63.4K

-16.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 MKD 34.7K

$788 MKD 41.6K

-16.40%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Bitola: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $320 in Strumica and $284 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 20% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $28.00 in Strumica vs $29.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $205 per month, with Strumica 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

Strumica vs Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, Bitola earns 20% less. 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: $320 in Strumica versus $284 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Strumica runs roughly 16% less than in Bitola. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Strumica wins on affordability, Bitola on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.