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: $875 in Strumica versus $883 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in Strumica versus $1,337 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,627 in Strumica versus $1,790 in Bitola.

Living in Strumica costs roughly 1% 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

$3.71 MKD 197

$5.51 MKD 292

-32.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.68 MKD 1,522

$27.91 MKD 1,481

2.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 MKD 264

$5.11 MKD 271

-2.74%

Cappuccino

$1.67 MKD 88.8

$1.96 MKD 104

-14.80%

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

$1.46 MKD 77.2

$1.72 MKD 91.2

-15.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MKD 59.3

$1.29 MKD 68.2

-13.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 MKD 97.6

$2.20 MKD 117

-16.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 MKD 116

$2.77 MKD 147

-21.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 MKD 70.6

$1.40 MKD 74.3

-5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 38.31

$0.68 MKD 35.86

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MKD 93.9

$1.71 MKD 90.6

3.51%

Eggs

$2.08 MKD 111

$2.04 MKD 108

1.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.36 MKD 550

$10.25 MKD 544

1.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 MKD 338

$7.28 MKD 386

-12.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.38 MKD 551

$13.75 MKD 730

-24.51%

Apples (1kg)

$0.68 MKD 36.07

$1.03 MKD 54.7

-33.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MKD 72.7

$1.43 MKD 75.8

-4.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 MKD 65.3

$1.30 MKD 69.1

-5.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 MKD 85.5

$1.63 MKD 86.7

-1.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 MKD 48.86

$0.91 MKD 48.37

1.10%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 MKD 44.56

$1.34 MKD 71.3

-37.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 30.84

$0.58 MKD 30.88

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MKD 28.60

$0.52 MKD 27.85

3.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 MKD 148

$3.00 MKD 159

-7.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.51 MKD 293

$5.94 MKD 315

-7.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 MKD 52.0

$0.94 MKD 49.99

4.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 MKD 63.9

$1.88 MKD 99.7

-36.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MKD 38.56

$0.54 MKD 28.91

35.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.59 MKD 1,092

$16.73 MKD 888

23.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 MKD 58.3

$1.12 MKD 59.3

-1.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.24

$0.50 MKD 26.48

-2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 MKD 358

$6.74 MKD 357

0.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MKD 79.5

$1.43 MKD 75.8

4.90%

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

$31.5K MKD 1.7M

$32.0K MKD 1.7M

-1.56%

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

$33.3K MKD 1.8M

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

-2.02%

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

$143 MKD 7,586

$145 MKD 7,695

-1.43%

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

$13.40 MKD 711

$17.86 MKD 948

-24.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.59 MKD 827

$15.58 MKD 826

0.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 MKD 1,078

$24.59 MKD 1,305

-17.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 MKD 344

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 MKD 248

$4.84 MKD 257

-3.31%

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

$223 MKD 11.8K

$219 MKD 11.6K

1.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,207 MKD 64.1K

$1,214 MKD 64.4K

-0.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 MKD 4,036

$76.2 MKD 4,042

-0.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.25 MKD 2,560

$48.94 MKD 2,597

-1.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 MKD 3,922

$75.6 MKD 4,013

-2.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.0 MKD 4,935

$113 MKD 6,013

-17.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 MKD 17.2K

$285 MKD 15.1K

13.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 MKD 13.0K

$198 MKD 10.5K

23.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 MKD 27.1K

$591 MKD 31.4K

-13.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 MKD 15.9K

$316 MKD 16.7K

-4.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,478 MKD 78.4K

$1,726 MKD 91.6K

-14.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,004 MKD 53.3K

$1,188 MKD 63.0K

-15.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MKD 35.3K

$785 MKD 41.6K

-15.35%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Bitola: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $324 in Strumica and $285 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 18% 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 $186 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 1% in total monthly costs ($875 vs $883 including rent). Strumica is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bitola earns 18% 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: $324 in Strumica versus $285 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% 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 1% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.