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: $894 in Strumica versus $882 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,257 in Strumica versus $1,326 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,620 in Strumica versus $1,771 in Bitola.

Living in Strumica is roughly 1% more expensive than in Bitola, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Strumica 35% lower, Bitola 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.68 MKD 197

$5.57 MKD 298

-33.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.66 MKD 1,266

$27.82 MKD 1,489

-14.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.84 MKD 206

$5.38 MKD 288

-28.62%

Cappuccino

$1.63 MKD 87.1

$2.01 MKD 107

-18.91%

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

$1.39 MKD 74.3

$1.77 MKD 94.7

-21.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 MKD 66.6

$1.48 MKD 79.0

-16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 MKD 103

$2.19 MKD 117

-11.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 MKD 108

$2.61 MKD 140

-22.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 MKD 70.1

$1.36 MKD 72.7

-3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 MKD 41.19

$0.70 MKD 37.47

10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 MKD 96.2

$1.75 MKD 93.9

2.86%

Eggs

$2.19 MKD 117

$2.00 MKD 107

9.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.66 MKD 463

$10.37 MKD 555

-16.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 MKD 344

$7.31 MKD 391

-12.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.27 MKD 550

$13.45 MKD 720

-23.64%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 MKD 36.71

$1.03 MKD 55.1

-33.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MKD 77.4

$1.38 MKD 74.0

5.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 MKD 63.6

$1.30 MKD 69.4

-8.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MKD 112

$1.54 MKD 82.7

36.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.53

$0.91 MKD 48.45

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 MKD 44.17

$1.37 MKD 73.4

-39.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 MKD 32.34

$0.57 MKD 30.54

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MKD 33.32

$0.50 MKD 27.00

24.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 MKD 154

$3.35 MKD 179

-14.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 MKD 309

$5.91 MKD 316

-2.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MKD 52.1

$0.99 MKD 52.9

-2.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 MKD 64.3

$1.85 MKD 99.3

-35.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MKD 39.32

$0.54 MKD 28.67

35.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.70 MKD 894

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 59.7

$1.15 MKD 61.6

-3.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 MKD 31.88

$0.63 MKD 33.82

-4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 MKD 426

$6.44 MKD 345

23.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MKD 84.7

$1.46 MKD 78.4

8.22%

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

$37.2K MKD 2.0M

$32.4K MKD 1.7M

14.84%

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

$27.8K MKD 1.5M

$34.5K MKD 1.8M

-19.27%

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

$157 MKD 8,419

$152 MKD 8,139

3.43%

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

$13.02 MKD 697

$14.81 MKD 792

-12.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.96 MKD 1,015

$13.25 MKD 709

43.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.68 MKD 1,107

$21.99 MKD 1,177

-5.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 MKD 349

Cinema Ticket

$7.73 MKD 414

$4.65 MKD 249

66.24%

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

$372 MKD 19.9K

$218 MKD 11.6K

71.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,799 MKD 310.3K

$1,181 MKD 63.2K

391.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.4 MKD 4,622

$76.9 MKD 4,116

12.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.62 MKD 2,013

$47.90 MKD 2,564

-21.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MKD 5,537

$76.3 MKD 4,086

35.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MKD 4,928

$112 MKD 5,996

-17.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 MKD 17.3K

$266 MKD 14.2K

21.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 MKD 13.0K

$195 MKD 10.4K

25.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 MKD 26.2K

$415 MKD 22.2K

17.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 MKD 16.1K

$301 MKD 16.1K

0.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,478 MKD 79.1K

$1,774 MKD 94.9K

-16.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$990 MKD 53.0K

$1,204 MKD 64.5K

-17.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$669 MKD 35.8K

$780 MKD 41.8K

-14.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

-37.98%

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

Last update for Strumica: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bitola: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $324 in Strumica and $266 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Strumica vs $28.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $204 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

Strumica and Bitola differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($894 vs $882 including rent). Bitola 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: $324 in Strumica versus $266 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Strumica pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $894 per month in Strumica versus $882 in Bitola – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bitola 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 Bitola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Strumica. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.