Cost of Living Comparison Between Sveti Nikole and Bitola Cost of Living Comparison Between Sveti Nikole and Bitola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $894 in Sveti Nikole versus $899 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,347 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,811 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,794 in Bitola.

Living in Sveti Nikole costs roughly 1% less than in Bitola, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sveti Nikole 35% lower, Bitola 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.38 MKD 495

$5.58 MKD 294

68.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.67 MKD 1,828

$28.09 MKD 1,481

23.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 MKD 285

$5.32 MKD 281

1.50%

Cappuccino

$1.75 MKD 92.1

$1.92 MKD 101

-8.85%

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

$1.45 MKD 76.5

$1.80 MKD 94.9

-19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 53.5

$1.45 MKD 76.5

-30.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 MKD 83.3

$2.32 MKD 122

-31.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 MKD 98.3

$2.62 MKD 138

-29.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 74.1

$1.40 MKD 73.6

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 MKD 29.58

$0.68 MKD 35.69

-17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MKD 63.3

$1.72 MKD 90.7

-30.23%

Eggs

$2.55 MKD 135

$1.99 MKD 105

28.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 MKD 509

$10.25 MKD 540

-5.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 MKD 245

$7.25 MKD 382

-36.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.40 MKD 654

$13.88 MKD 732

-10.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 73.4

$1.05 MKD 55.1

32.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.6

$1.40 MKD 74.1

-2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 71.4

$1.25 MKD 65.9

8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 MKD 93.8

$1.64 MKD 86.4

8.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 MKD 41.50

$0.98 MKD 51.7

-19.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MKD 63.9

$1.36 MKD 71.5

-11.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 MKD 43.89

$0.59 MKD 31.04

40.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 MKD 21.58

$0.55 MKD 28.89

-25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 MKD 165

$3.10 MKD 163

0.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 MKD 340

$5.97 MKD 315

8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MKD 55.8

$0.96 MKD 50.6

10.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MKD 77.7

$1.83 MKD 96.5

-19.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MKD 41.20

$0.58 MKD 30.60

34.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.00 MKD 1,318

$16.87 MKD 889

48.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 MKD 81.8

$1.15 MKD 60.7

34.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 MKD 56.0

$0.63 MKD 33.07

68.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.83 MKD 202

$6.54 MKD 345

-41.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MKD 76.1

$1.49 MKD 78.5

-3.36%

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

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

$32.4K MKD 1.7M

4.30%

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

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

-16.30%

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

$152 MKD 8,017

$152 MKD 8,018

-0.03%

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

$15.96 MKD 841

$14.72 MKD 776

8.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.48 MKD 658

$13.25 MKD 699

-5.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.62 MKD 1,245

$22.63 MKD 1,193

4.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 MKD 885

$6.77 MKD 357

147.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 MKD 275

$4.84 MKD 255

7.64%

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

$356 MKD 18.8K

$218 MKD 11.5K

63.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,864 MKD 256.5K

$1,220 MKD 64.3K

298.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 MKD 4,062

$78.2 MKD 4,125

-1.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.42 MKD 1,762

$48.84 MKD 2,575

-31.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 MKD 4,410

$76.5 MKD 4,031

9.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 MKD 4,685

$115 MKD 6,074

-22.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 MKD 16.5K

$271 MKD 14.3K

15.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 MKD 9,690

$196 MKD 10.3K

-6.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 MKD 25.9K

$417 MKD 22.0K

17.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 MKD 16.1K

$302 MKD 15.9K

1.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,613 MKD 85.0K

$1,784 MKD 94.1K

-9.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,204 MKD 63.5K

$1,181 MKD 62.3K

1.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$569 MKD 30.0K

$801 MKD 42.2K

-28.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

6.45

-34.11%

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

Last update for Sveti Nikole: August 29, 2026

Last update for Bitola: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Sveti Nikole and $271 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 41% 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: $35.00 in Sveti Nikole vs $28.00 in Bitola. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $206, with Sveti Nikole 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

Sveti Nikole vs Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sveti Nikole and Bitola differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($894 vs $899 including rent). Sveti Nikole is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 41% 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: $312 in Sveti Nikole versus $271 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 Sveti Nikole – a meal for two runs $35.00 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 Sveti Nikole 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, Sveti Nikole 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 Sveti Nikole 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.