🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $894 in Sveti Nikole versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Sveti Nikole versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,811 in Sveti Nikole versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Sveti Nikole costs roughly 61% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sveti Nikole is 35% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sveti Nikole
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38MKD 495
$17.30€14.87
-45.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.67MKD 1,828
$63.3€54.4
-45.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40MKD 285
$11.39€9.79
-52.59%
Cappuccino
$1.75MKD 92.1
$3.19€2.74
-45.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MKD 76.5
$2.45€2.10
-40.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01MKD 53.5
$1.76€1.52
-42.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58MKD 83.3
$3.59€3.09
-55.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86MKD 98.3
$3.39€2.92
-45.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sveti Nikole
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MKD 74.1
$1.24€1.06
12.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56MKD 29.58
$1.98€1.71
-71.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20MKD 63.3
$1.52€1.31
-21.05%
Eggs
$2.55MKD 135
$4.04€3.47
-36.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.66MKD 509
$13.54€11.64
-28.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.64MKD 245
$8.39€7.21
-44.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.40MKD 654
$18.25€15.69
-32.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39MKD 73.4
$2.29€1.97
-39.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36MKD 71.6
$1.74€1.50
-21.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MKD 71.4
$1.86€1.60
-27.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.78MKD 93.8
$2.63€2.26
-32.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79MKD 41.50
$1.92€1.65
-58.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21MKD 63.9
$2.09€1.80
-42.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83MKD 43.89
$1.44€1.24
-42.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41MKD 21.58
$0.84€0.72
-51.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13MKD 165
$6.78€5.83
-53.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.45MKD 340
$5.71€4.91
12.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MKD 55.8
$1.38€1.18
-23.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MKD 77.7
$2.22€1.91
-33.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Sveti Nikole
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78MKD 41.20
$2.40€2.06
-67.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.00MKD 1,318
$46.78€40.22
-46.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.55MKD 81.8
$4.17€3.59
-62.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06MKD 56.0
$1.14€0.98
-7.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.83MKD 202
$17.68€15.20
-78.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MKD 76.1
$2.32€2.00
-37.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8KMKD 1.8M
$35.3K€30.4K
-4.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KMKD 1.5M
$41.4K€35.6K
-32.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sveti Nikole
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152MKD 8,017
$170€146
-10.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.96MKD 841
$19.34€16.62
-17.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.48MKD 658
$33.64€28.92
-62.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sveti Nikole
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.62MKD 1,245
$48.10€41.35
-50.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.78MKD 885
$19.90€17.11
-15.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.21MKD 275
$9.92€8.53
-47.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sveti Nikole
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$356MKD 18.8K
$717€617
-50.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,864MKD 256.5K
$17.5K€15.0K
-72.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sveti Nikole
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.0MKD 4,062
$105€90.1
-26.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.42MKD 1,762
$46.95€40.36
-28.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.6MKD 4,410
$103€88.9
-19.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.8MKD 4,685
$124€107
-28.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sveti Nikole
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312MKD 16.5K
$1,677€1,441
-81.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184MKD 9,690
$1,271€1,093
-85.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$491MKD 25.9K
$2,985€2,566
-83.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MKD 16.1K
$1,992€1,713
-84.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,613MKD 85.0K
$7,826€6,728
-79.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,204MKD 63.5K
$4,658€4,004
-74.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sveti Nikole
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$569MKD 30.0K
$1,583€1,361
-64.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
3.79
12.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sveti Nikole: August 29, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Sveti Nikole and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 178% 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: $35.00 in Sveti Nikole vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $283 per month, with Sveti Nikole 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sveti Nikole and in Lisbon?
Sveti Nikole and Lisbon differ by about 159% in total monthly costs ($894 vs $2,316 including rent). Sveti Nikole is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 178% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Sveti Nikole and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $312 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sveti Nikole and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $356 in Sveti Nikole versus $717 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $894 in Sveti Nikole versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sveti Nikole but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sveti Nikole the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sveti Nikole and Lisbon?
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.
Is Sveti Nikole or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sveti Nikole and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Sveti Nikole or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sveti Nikole gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sveti Nikole vs other spots: cost of living compared