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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Sveti Nikole versus $798 in Gostivar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,321 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,195 in Gostivar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,772 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,592 in Gostivar.

Living in Sveti Nikole is roughly 9% more expensive than Gostivar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sveti Nikole 35% lower, Gostivar 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.58 MKD 296

$5.13 MKD 272

8.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.19 MKD 1,496

$23.07 MKD 1,224

22.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 MKD 263

$4.98 MKD 264

-0.40%

Cappuccino

$1.66 MKD 87.9

$1.39 MKD 73.5

19.42%

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

$1.61 MKD 85.5

$1.16 MKD 61.7

38.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 MKD 65.4

$1.15 MKD 61.0

6.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 MKD 117

$1.39 MKD 73.7

58.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 MKD 142

$1.91 MKD 101

39.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 MKD 69.0

$1.34 MKD 71.1

-2.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 38.26

$0.71 MKD 37.73

1.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MKD 89.2

$1.54 MKD 81.7

9.09%

Eggs

$2.11 MKD 112

$2.12 MKD 113

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.58 MKD 455

$6.39 MKD 339

34.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 MKD 343

$5.52 MKD 293

17.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.82 MKD 733

$13.64 MKD 724

1.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MKD 54.3

$1.06 MKD 56.4

-3.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 73.8

$1.44 MKD 76.6

-3.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 MKD 69.3

$1.32 MKD 69.9

-0.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 MKD 83.3

$1.58 MKD 83.8

-0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 47.37

$0.94 MKD 49.73

-5.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 MKD 49.58

$0.72 MKD 38.34

29.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 MKD 33.99

$0.54 MKD 28.92

18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.61

$0.56 MKD 29.78

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 MKD 160

$2.80 MKD 148

7.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.53 MKD 346

$4.60 MKD 244

41.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 MKD 50.0

$0.96 MKD 51.0

-2.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 MKD 77.6

$1.53 MKD 81.1

-4.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 MKD 34.34

$0.68 MKD 36.30

-4.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.02 MKD 1,062

$19.86 MKD 1,054

0.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 MKD 67.6

$0.97 MKD 51.7

30.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 MKD 27.64

$0.36 MKD 18.94

44.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 MKD 355

$6.47 MKD 343

3.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.7

$1.47 MKD 78.2

-2.72%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$31.5K MKD 1.7M

1.12%

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

$29.4K MKD 1.6M

$46.2K MKD 2.5M

-36.34%

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

$145 MKD 7,688

$131 MKD 6,939

10.78%

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

$17.51 MKD 929

$11.32 MKD 601

54.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.52 MKD 823

$15.23 MKD 808

1.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.81 MKD 1,422

$26.46 MKD 1,404

1.32%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 MKD 256

$4.79 MKD 254

0.63%

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

$222 MKD 11.8K

$219 MKD 11.6K

1.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,180 MKD 62.6K

$1,209 MKD 64.2K

-2.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 MKD 4,046

$37.49 MKD 1,989

103.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.98 MKD 2,069

$38.20 MKD 2,027

2.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 MKD 4,046

$73.7 MKD 3,908

3.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MKD 5,952

$113 MKD 5,985

-0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MKD 15.1K

$283 MKD 15.0K

0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 MKD 10.3K

$193 MKD 10.2K

1.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 MKD 30.4K

$555 MKD 29.5K

3.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MKD 16.4K

$305 MKD 16.2K

1.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,656 MKD 87.9K

-0.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,311 MKD 69.6K

$1,252 MKD 66.4K

4.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 MKD 30.1K

$885 MKD 47.0K

-35.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

6.5

-30.15%

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

Last update for Sveti Nikole: June 9, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Sveti Nikole and $283 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 56% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Sveti Nikole vs $23.00 in Gostivar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $180 per month, with Gostivar 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 Gostivar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gostivar wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Sveti Nikole. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gostivar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Gostivar earns 56% 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: $284 in Sveti Nikole versus $283 in Gostivar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $870 per month in Sveti Nikole versus $798 in Gostivar – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 1% less than in Sveti Nikole. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Gostivar 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 Gostivar 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 Gostivar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.