😐A single person spends $887 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $778 in Stip, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,138 in Stip, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,759 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,497 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
$5.74MKD 302
$5.74MKD 302
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.63MKD 1,509
$16.11MKD 849
77.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.21MKD 275
$4.92MKD 259
5.89%
Cappuccino
$1.73MKD 91.4
$1.89MKD 99.4
-8.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67MKD 88.3
$1.74MKD 92.0
-4.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26MKD 66.5
$1.21MKD 64.0
4.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20MKD 116
$2.21MKD 117
-0.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69MKD 142
$2.79MKD 147
-3.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29MKD 68.1
$1.29MKD 67.9
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MKD 37.59
$0.68MKD 35.66
4.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MKD 90.7
$1.10MKD 58.2
56.36%
Eggs
$2.08MKD 110
$2.10MKD 111
-0.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.30MKD 438
$10.32MKD 544
-19.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.47MKD 341
$7.23MKD 381
-10.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.33MKD 703
$7.43MKD 392
79.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07MKD 56.5
$0.97MKD 51.2
10.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MKD 76.2
$1.43MKD 75.6
1.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27MKD 66.7
$1.31MKD 69.0
-3.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MKD 83.1
$1.58MKD 83.1
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.94MKD 49.70
$0.93MKD 48.85
1.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MKD 52.3
$1.39MKD 73.1
-28.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62MKD 32.51
$0.53MKD 28.17
16.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53MKD 27.75
$0.40MKD 21.30
32.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06MKD 161
$3.05MKD 161
0.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.48MKD 341
$7.49MKD 395
-13.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01MKD 53.3
$1.01MKD 53.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MKD 76.8
$1.81MKD 95.3
-19.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65MKD 34.20
$0.63MKD 33.06
3.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.07MKD 1,058
$20.52MKD 1,082
-2.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29MKD 68.2
$1.10MKD 58.1
17.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.87
$0.49MKD 25.84
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.44MKD 339
$5.61MKD 296
14.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43MKD 75.5
$1.45MKD 76.2
-1.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KMKD 1.7M
$31.4KMKD 1.7M
2.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KMKD 1.6M
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
-12.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145MKD 7,619
$144MKD 7,568
0.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.35MKD 915
$9.23MKD 486
87.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.43MKD 813
$15.31MKD 807
0.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.73MKD 1,409
$27.83MKD 1,467
-3.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60MKD 243
$4.74MKD 250
-2.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$215MKD 11.4K
$216MKD 11.4K
-0.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,226MKD 64.6K
$1,182MKD 62.3K
3.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1MKD 4,009
$38.03MKD 2,004
100.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.12MKD 2,061
$31.80MKD 1,676
23.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4MKD 3,922
$74.6MKD 3,933
-0.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111MKD 5,860
$114MKD 6,013
-2.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$281MKD 14.8K
$207MKD 10.9K
35.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$198MKD 10.4K
$133MKD 7,008
49.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$563MKD 29.7K
$344MKD 18.1K
63.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309MKD 16.3K
$204MKD 10.8K
51.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,644MKD 86.6K
$1,257MKD 66.3K
30.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,276MKD 67.3K
$1,026MKD 54.1K
24.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sveti Nikole
Stip
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$568MKD 29.9K
$467MKD 24.6K
21.77%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Stip: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Sveti Nikole versus $207 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 22% 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 $29.00 in Sveti Nikole versus $16.00 in Stip. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $185 – 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 $1,331 per month in Sveti Nikole and $1,167 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 Stip?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 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 vs Stip?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $887 in Sveti Nikole and $778 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 $887 in Sveti Nikole and $778 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