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: $878 in Sveti Nikole versus $868 in Gostivar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,333 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,295 in Gostivar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,788 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,721 in Gostivar.

Living in Sveti Nikole is roughly 1% more expensive than in Gostivar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sveti Nikole 36% lower, Gostivar 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.35 MKD 497

$6.51 MKD 346

43.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.11 MKD 1,814

$28.17 MKD 1,498

21.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 MKD 297

$6.07 MKD 323

-8.07%

Cappuccino

$1.70 MKD 90.6

$1.39 MKD 74.0

22.30%

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

$1.37 MKD 73.0

$1.38 MKD 73.2

-0.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 MKD 55.7

$1.10 MKD 58.6

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 MKD 85.8

$1.33 MKD 70.7

21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 MKD 99.4

$1.93 MKD 103

-3.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MKD 73.3

$1.33 MKD 70.7

3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 MKD 30.23

$0.73 MKD 39.04

-21.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MKD 63.8

$1.47 MKD 78.4

-18.37%

Eggs

$2.65 MKD 141

$2.46 MKD 131

7.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.17 MKD 488

$6.50 MKD 345

41.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 MKD 255

$5.72 MKD 304

-16.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.37 MKD 658

$15.27 MKD 812

-18.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 MKD 70.5

$1.46 MKD 77.9

-8.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 MKD 68.2

$1.44 MKD 76.6

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 MKD 68.0

$1.35 MKD 71.7

-5.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 MKD 93.7

$1.86 MKD 98.8

-5.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MKD 37.48

$0.89 MKD 47.32

-21.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MKD 61.0

$0.72 MKD 38.29

59.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 MKD 44.01

$0.60 MKD 32.02

38.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 MKD 23.10

$0.59 MKD 31.20

-27.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 MKD 166

$2.89 MKD 154

8.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.55 MKD 348

$4.60 MKD 245

42.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MKD 56.0

$0.97 MKD 51.4

8.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MKD 80.6

$1.46 MKD 77.7

3.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 40.73

$0.68 MKD 36.33

13.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.09 MKD 1,228

$25.14 MKD 1,337

-8.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 MKD 77.9

$0.79 MKD 41.81

84.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 MKD 56.4

$0.34 MKD 18.24

211.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 MKD 196

$7.84 MKD 417

-52.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MKD 79.9

$1.54 MKD 81.8

-2.60%

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

$40.3K MKD 2.1M

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

20.59%

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

$28.6K MKD 1.5M

0.03%

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

$141 MKD 7,493

$131 MKD 6,951

7.79%

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

$15.64 MKD 832

$11.29 MKD 600

38.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.08 MKD 642

$18.88 MKD 1,004

-36.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.83 MKD 1,214

$25.62 MKD 1,362

-10.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.30 MKD 1,026

$19.14 MKD 1,018

0.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 MKD 276

$7.63 MKD 406

-31.98%

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

$311 MKD 16.5K

$366 MKD 19.5K

-15.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,453 MKD 236.8K

$5,823 MKD 309.6K

-23.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.7 MKD 3,918

$37.84 MKD 2,012

94.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.73 MKD 1,741

$36.88 MKD 1,961

-11.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 MKD 4,500

$106 MKD 5,636

-20.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.6 MKD 4,712

$115 MKD 6,137

-23.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 MKD 13.7K

$271 MKD 14.4K

-5.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 MKD 10.6K

$195 MKD 10.4K

2.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 MKD 23.0K

$471 MKD 25.1K

-8.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 MKD 18.0K

$304 MKD 16.1K

11.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,542 MKD 82.0K

$1,532 MKD 81.5K

0.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,157 MKD 61.5K

$1,155 MKD 61.4K

0.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$556 MKD 29.6K

$882 MKD 46.9K

-36.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

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

Last update for Sveti Nikole: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Sveti Nikole and $271 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Sveti Nikole vs $28.00 in Gostivar. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $191, 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 Gostivar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gostivar wins on cost – living expenses run 1% 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 58% 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: $257 in Sveti Nikole versus $271 in Gostivar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $878 per month in Sveti Nikole versus $868 in Gostivar – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 9% 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 1% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.