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: $885 in Sveti Nikole versus $897 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,299 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,351 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,713 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,805 in Bitola.

Living in Sveti Nikole costs roughly 1% less than in Bitola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.66 MKD 303

$5.54 MKD 297

2.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.68 MKD 1,485

$27.95 MKD 1,499

-0.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 MKD 275

$5.17 MKD 277

-0.77%

Cappuccino

$1.71 MKD 91.9

$1.97 MKD 105

-13.20%

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

$1.61 MKD 86.3

$1.80 MKD 96.4

-10.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 MKD 66.2

$1.22 MKD 65.3

0.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 MKD 124

$2.21 MKD 118

4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 MKD 147

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 MKD 66.8

$1.40 MKD 75.1

-10.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 MKD 39.37

$0.72 MKD 38.52

1.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MKD 90.7

$1.77 MKD 95.1

-4.52%

Eggs

$2.04 MKD 110

$2.01 MKD 108

1.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.56 MKD 459

$10.35 MKD 555

-17.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 MKD 339

$7.12 MKD 382

-11.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.78 MKD 739

$13.66 MKD 733

0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 57.4

$1.03 MKD 55.2

3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MKD 73.6

$1.44 MKD 77.1

-4.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 MKD 67.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 87.5

$1.61 MKD 86.5

1.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 MKD 50.8

$0.91 MKD 48.71

4.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.76

$1.34 MKD 71.7

-32.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 MKD 32.50

$0.54 MKD 29.22

12.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MKD 28.75

$0.56 MKD 30.30

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 MKD 165

$3.05 MKD 164

0.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.62 MKD 355

$5.95 MKD 319

11.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 51.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MKD 81.6

$1.82 MKD 97.7

-16.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 MKD 34.09

$0.55 MKD 29.27

16.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.57 MKD 1,103

$16.81 MKD 902

22.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 MKD 72.0

$1.11 MKD 59.8

20.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MKD 26.71

$0.49 MKD 26.15

2.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 MKD 359

$6.49 MKD 348

3.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 MKD 76.1

$1.43 MKD 76.5

-0.70%

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

$31.7K MKD 1.7M

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

-0.45%

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

$29.5K MKD 1.6M

$33.3K MKD 1.8M

-11.34%

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

$146 MKD 7,851

$145 MKD 7,769

1.05%

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

$17.61 MKD 944

$17.32 MKD 929

1.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.28 MKD 820

$15.69 MKD 842

-2.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.21 MKD 1,406

$24.19 MKD 1,298

8.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.47 MKD 347

Cinema Ticket

$4.58 MKD 246

$4.77 MKD 256

-3.98%

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

$223 MKD 12.0K

$219 MKD 11.7K

2.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,208 MKD 64.8K

$1,211 MKD 65.0K

-0.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.2 MKD 4,085

$78.3 MKD 4,200

-2.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.34 MKD 2,164

$47.21 MKD 2,532

-14.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 MKD 4,079

$74.1 MKD 3,975

2.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 6,050

$111 MKD 5,975

1.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 MKD 15.0K

$285 MKD 15.3K

-1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 MKD 10.3K

$196 MKD 10.5K

-1.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 MKD 30.7K

$606 MKD 32.5K

-5.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 MKD 16.4K

$312 MKD 16.7K

-2.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,602 MKD 85.9K

$1,727 MKD 92.6K

-7.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,274 MKD 68.3K

$1,181 MKD 63.3K

7.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$561 MKD 30.1K

$776 MKD 41.7K

-27.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

7.1

-36.06%

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

Last update for Sveti Nikole: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bitola: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Sveti Nikole and $285 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 38% 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: $28.00 in Sveti Nikole vs $28.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $205 per month, with Sveti Nikole 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

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

Sveti Nikole and Bitola differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($885 vs $897 including rent). Sveti Nikole is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 38% 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: $280 in Sveti Nikole versus $285 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% 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 $28.00 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.