😐A single person spends $885 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $774 in Stip, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,153 in Stip, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,713 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,532 in Stip, rent included.
😐Sveti Nikole costs about 14% more than Stip, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Sveti Nikole and Stip are more affordable than the global median – Sveti Nikole34% lower, Stip42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.66MKD 304
$5.80MKD 311
-2.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.68MKD 1,486
$15.99MKD 858
73.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.13MKD 275
$4.95MKD 266
3.64%
Cappuccino
$1.71MKD 91.9
$1.98MKD 106
-13.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MKD 86.4
$1.76MKD 94.5
-8.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 66.3
$1.23MKD 66.1
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32MKD 124
$2.29MKD 123
1.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74MKD 147
$2.65MKD 142
3.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25MKD 66.8
$1.33MKD 71.2
-6.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73MKD 39.40
$0.67MKD 36.09
8.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69MKD 90.8
$1.12MKD 60.0
50.89%
Eggs
$2.04MKD 110
$2.03MKD 109
0.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.56MKD 460
$10.33MKD 555
-17.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.33MKD 340
$7.34MKD 394
-13.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.78MKD 740
$7.50MKD 403
83.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07MKD 57.5
$0.90MKD 48.53
18.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MKD 73.6
$1.38MKD 74.0
-0.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25MKD 67.0
$1.31MKD 70.2
-4.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63MKD 87.6
$1.63MKD 87.5
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.95MKD 50.8
$0.99MKD 52.9
-4.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91MKD 48.80
$1.37MKD 73.8
-33.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61MKD 32.52
$0.58MKD 31.02
5.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MKD 28.77
$0.41MKD 22.01
31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07MKD 165
$2.95MKD 159
4.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.62MKD 356
$7.60MKD 408
-12.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96MKD 51.4
$0.99MKD 53.1
-3.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MKD 81.6
$1.79MKD 95.9
-15.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64MKD 34.11
$0.64MKD 34.35
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.57MKD 1,104
$19.79MKD 1,063
3.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.34MKD 72.0
$1.16MKD 62.1
15.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MKD 26.73
$0.53MKD 28.38
-5.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.69MKD 359
$5.61MKD 301
19.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42MKD 76.2
$1.49MKD 80.0
-4.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KMKD 1.7M
$31.7KMKD 1.7M
-0.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KMKD 1.6M
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
-14.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146MKD 7,857
$147MKD 7,914
-0.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.61MKD 945
$9.36MKD 503
88.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.28MKD 820
$15.45MKD 829
-1.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.21MKD 1,407
$27.94MKD 1,500
-6.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.58MKD 246
$4.75MKD 255
-3.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$223MKD 12.0K
$219MKD 11.8K
1.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,208MKD 64.9K
$1,186MKD 63.7K
1.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.2MKD 4,088
$36.87MKD 1,979
106.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.34MKD 2,166
$31.76MKD 1,705
27.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.0MKD 4,082
$75.4MKD 4,049
0.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113MKD 6,054
$114MKD 6,105
-0.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280MKD 15.0K
$209MKD 11.2K
34.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$193MKD 10.3K
$133MKD 7,150
44.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$573MKD 30.7K
$338MKD 18.1K
69.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MKD 16.4K
$203MKD 10.9K
50.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,602MKD 86.0K
$1,228MKD 65.9K
30.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,274MKD 68.4K
$988MKD 53.0K
29.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$561MKD 30.1K
$463MKD 24.9K
21.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.54
7.1
-36.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sveti Nikole: July 13, 2026
Last update for Stip: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Sveti Nikole versus $209 in Stip. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 21% higher in Sveti Nikole, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Sveti Nikole versus $16.00 in Stip. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $186 – making Stip the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Stip: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stip cheaper than Sveti Nikole?
Yes – Sveti Nikole is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,327 per month in Sveti Nikole and $1,161 in Stip. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stip, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Sveti Nikole or in Stip?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Sveti Nikole and $16.00 in Stip. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Sveti Nikole and in Stip?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $885 in Sveti Nikole and $774 in Stip. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 enough for either Sveti Nikole or Stip?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $885 in Sveti Nikole and $774 in Stip, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Sveti Nikole or Stip more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stip – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sveti Nikole or Stip?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Stip. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sveti Nikole makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Sveti Nikole vs other spots: cost of living compared