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: $864 in Sveti Nikole versus $813 in Gostivar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,289 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,191 in Gostivar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,715 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,570 in Gostivar.

Living in Sveti Nikole is roughly 6% more expensive than in Gostivar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sveti Nikole 35% lower, Gostivar 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 MKD 304

$5.19 MKD 277

9.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.77 MKD 1,484

$23.38 MKD 1,250

18.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 MKD 274

$5.03 MKD 269

1.99%

Cappuccino

$1.71 MKD 91.2

$1.44 MKD 76.7

18.75%

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

$1.66 MKD 88.7

$1.15 MKD 61.5

44.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 MKD 65.0

$1.16 MKD 61.7

5.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 MKD 123

$1.35 MKD 72.1

71.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 MKD 144

$1.84 MKD 98.4

46.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 MKD 70.1

$1.41 MKD 75.2

-7.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MKD 38.13

$0.67 MKD 35.64

5.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MKD 92.5

$1.54 MKD 82.3

12.34%

Eggs

$2.03 MKD 108

$2.09 MKD 112

-2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.22 MKD 439

$6.66 MKD 356

23.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 MKD 333

$5.79 MKD 310

7.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 MKD 738

$13.47 MKD 720

2.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 55.0

$1.08 MKD 57.6

-4.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 MKD 76.0

$1.42 MKD 76.1

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 MKD 69.0

$1.26 MKD 67.2

2.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 MKD 86.3

$1.63 MKD 87.3

-1.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 47.35

$0.98 MKD 52.4

-9.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 52.7

$0.78 MKD 41.92

26.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 MKD 35.05

$0.54 MKD 28.80

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MKD 28.71

$0.56 MKD 29.94

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 MKD 159

$2.78 MKD 148

6.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 MKD 342

$4.71 MKD 252

35.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 MKD 53.3

$0.90 MKD 48.36

11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MKD 81.9

$1.54 MKD 82.2

-0.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 MKD 34.47

$0.63 MKD 33.61

1.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.23 MKD 1,081

$20.00 MKD 1,069

1.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MKD 70.9

$0.93 MKD 49.59

43.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.22

$0.35 MKD 18.79

40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.55 MKD 350

$6.60 MKD 353

-0.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 79.8

$1.44 MKD 77.2

3.47%

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

$31.6K MKD 1.7M

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

-1.09%

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

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

$46.2K MKD 2.5M

-35.96%

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

$146 MKD 7,816

$132 MKD 7,079

10.42%

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

$17.49 MKD 934

$11.05 MKD 590

58.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.26 MKD 815

$15.45 MKD 826

-1.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.90 MKD 1,384

$26.09 MKD 1,394

-0.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 MKD 256

$4.67 MKD 250

2.36%

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

$215 MKD 11.5K

$218 MKD 11.7K

-1.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,185 MKD 63.3K

$1,197 MKD 64.0K

-1.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 MKD 4,116

$37.51 MKD 2,004

105.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.23 MKD 2,150

$38.26 MKD 2,045

5.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 MKD 4,014

$74.2 MKD 3,964

1.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MKD 5,967

$114 MKD 6,093

-2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MKD 14.9K

$280 MKD 15.0K

-0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 MKD 10.4K

$193 MKD 10.3K

0.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 MKD 29.6K

$569 MKD 30.4K

-2.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MKD 16.6K

$315 MKD 16.8K

-1.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,628 MKD 87.0K

$1,584 MKD 84.6K

2.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,244 MKD 66.5K

$1,238 MKD 66.1K

0.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 MKD 29.5K

$887 MKD 47.4K

-37.75%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Sveti Nikole and $280 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 61% 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 $194 vs $182 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 6% 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, salaries run 61% lower in Gostivar. 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: $279 in Sveti Nikole versus $280 in Gostivar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $864 per month in Sveti Nikole versus $813 in Gostivar – a 6% 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 6% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.