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: $887 in Sveti Nikole versus $892 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,322 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,759 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,751 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

$5.74 MKD 302

$5.80 MKD 306

-1.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.63 MKD 1,509

$27.96 MKD 1,473

2.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.21 MKD 275

Cappuccino

$1.73 MKD 91.4

$1.96 MKD 103

-11.73%

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

$1.67 MKD 88.3

$1.81 MKD 95.3

-7.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 MKD 66.5

$1.24 MKD 65.2

1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 MKD 116

$2.30 MKD 121

-4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 MKD 142

$2.70 MKD 142

-0.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 68.1

$1.41 MKD 74.3

-8.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MKD 37.59

$0.67 MKD 35.07

5.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MKD 90.7

$1.73 MKD 91.0

-0.58%

Eggs

$2.08 MKD 110

$2.10 MKD 111

-0.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.30 MKD 438

$10.25 MKD 540

-19.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 MKD 341

$7.26 MKD 383

-10.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 MKD 703

$13.55 MKD 714

-1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 56.5

$1.02 MKD 53.8

4.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MKD 76.2

$1.40 MKD 73.6

3.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 MKD 66.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 MKD 83.1

$1.64 MKD 86.6

-3.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 49.70

$0.98 MKD 51.8

-4.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 52.3

$1.34 MKD 70.4

-26.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 MKD 32.51

$0.53 MKD 28.07

16.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MKD 27.75

$0.52 MKD 27.61

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 MKD 161

$2.97 MKD 157

3.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.48 MKD 341

$6.08 MKD 321

6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 53.3

$0.95 MKD 49.84

6.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 MKD 76.8

$1.88 MKD 98.9

-22.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 MKD 34.20

$0.59 MKD 30.97

10.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.07 MKD 1,058

$16.92 MKD 892

18.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 MKD 68.2

$1.11 MKD 58.3

16.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.87

$0.52 MKD 27.44

-5.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.44 MKD 339

$6.75 MKD 356

-4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.5

$1.47 MKD 77.6

-2.72%

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

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

0.73%

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

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

-11.40%

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

$145 MKD 7,619

$144 MKD 7,588

0.42%

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

$17.35 MKD 915

$17.79 MKD 938

-2.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.43 MKD 813

$15.47 MKD 815

-0.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.73 MKD 1,409

$24.09 MKD 1,269

10.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.47 MKD 341

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 MKD 243

$4.63 MKD 244

-0.65%

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

$215 MKD 11.4K

$217 MKD 11.4K

-0.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,226 MKD 64.6K

$1,193 MKD 62.9K

2.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 MKD 4,009

$75.8 MKD 3,995

0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.12 MKD 2,061

$47.75 MKD 2,516

-18.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 MKD 3,922

$74.7 MKD 3,939

-0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,860

$111 MKD 5,828

0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 MKD 14.8K

$288 MKD 15.2K

-2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 MKD 10.4K

$194 MKD 10.2K

2.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 MKD 29.7K

$584 MKD 30.8K

-3.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MKD 16.3K

$305 MKD 16.1K

1.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,644 MKD 86.6K

$1,732 MKD 91.3K

-5.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,276 MKD 67.3K

$1,183 MKD 62.3K

7.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$568 MKD 29.9K

$799 MKD 42.1K

-28.87%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bitola: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Sveti Nikole and $288 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: $29.00 in Sveti Nikole vs $28.00 in Bitola. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $205, 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 ($887 vs $892 including rent). Sveti Nikole is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bitola earns 41% 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: $281 in Sveti Nikole versus $288 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 $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 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.