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: $887 in Sveti Nikole versus $822 in Gostivar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,330 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,201 in Gostivar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,772 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,580 in Gostivar.

Living in Sveti Nikole is roughly 8% more expensive than Gostivar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sveti Nikole 34% lower, Gostivar 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.75 MKD 303

$5.31 MKD 280

8.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.67 MKD 1,459

$23.13 MKD 1,219

19.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 MKD 264

$5.13 MKD 271

-2.34%

Cappuccino

$1.72 MKD 90.8

$1.44 MKD 75.9

19.44%

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

$1.61 MKD 84.7

$1.12 MKD 58.9

43.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 MKD 66.7

$1.16 MKD 61.1

9.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 MKD 122

$1.39 MKD 73.2

66.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MKD 146

$1.87 MKD 98.4

48.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 MKD 66.5

$1.33 MKD 70.4

-5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 MKD 35.11

$0.69 MKD 36.25

-2.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MKD 88.9

$1.47 MKD 77.6

14.97%

Eggs

$2.04 MKD 108

$2.03 MKD 107

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 MKD 442

$6.76 MKD 356

23.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 MKD 325

$5.73 MKD 302

7.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.76 MKD 726

$13.63 MKD 718

0.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 54.3

$1.04 MKD 54.8

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MKD 72.6

$1.39 MKD 73.2

-0.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 MKD 66.8

$1.24 MKD 65.5

2.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MKD 85.4

$1.59 MKD 83.8

1.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 MKD 50.3

$0.94 MKD 49.36

1.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 MKD 47.68

$0.73 MKD 38.60

23.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 MKD 34.82

$0.53 MKD 28.15

24.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 29.77

$0.57 MKD 29.84

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 MKD 156

$2.84 MKD 150

3.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.63 MKD 297

$4.81 MKD 254

17.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 53.5

$0.97 MKD 51.0

4.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MKD 80.2

$1.53 MKD 80.6

-0.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MKD 36.35

$0.68 MKD 35.90

1.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.16 MKD 1,063

$20.01 MKD 1,055

0.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MKD 70.0

$0.95 MKD 50.1

40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.85

$0.33 MKD 17.30

48.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.43 MKD 339

$6.61 MKD 349

-2.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MKD 76.1

$1.50 MKD 79.0

-4.00%

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

$32.4K MKD 1.7M

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

1.43%

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

$29.8K MKD 1.6M

$47.5K MKD 2.5M

-37.17%

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

$147 MKD 7,743

$134 MKD 7,041

9.98%

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

$17.32 MKD 913

$11.12 MKD 586

55.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.48 MKD 816

$15.29 MKD 806

1.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.65 MKD 1,405

$26.10 MKD 1,376

2.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 MKD 252

$4.81 MKD 254

-0.42%

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

$217 MKD 11.4K

$222 MKD 11.7K

-2.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,209 MKD 63.8K

$1,184 MKD 62.4K

2.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.8 MKD 4,100

$37.77 MKD 1,992

105.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.91 MKD 2,104

$37.22 MKD 1,963

7.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 MKD 3,951

$76.2 MKD 4,020

-1.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MKD 5,917

$113 MKD 5,948

-0.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 MKD 14.9K

$283 MKD 14.9K

-0.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 MKD 10.2K

$197 MKD 10.4K

-1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 MKD 29.5K

$569 MKD 30.0K

-1.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 MKD 16.6K

$312 MKD 16.4K

1.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,572 MKD 82.9K

$1,627 MKD 85.8K

-3.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 MKD 64.6K

$1,207 MKD 63.6K

1.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 MKD 40.4K

$903 MKD 47.6K

-15.11%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Sveti Nikole and $283 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 18% 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 $191 vs $181 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 8% 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 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: $282 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 $887 per month in Sveti Nikole versus $822 in Gostivar – a 8% 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 8% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.