Cost of Living Comparison Between Sveti Nikole and Veles Cost of Living Comparison Between Sveti Nikole and Veles

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $897 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $785 in Veles, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,379 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,155 in Veles, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,860 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,525 in Veles, rent included.

Sveti Nikole costs about 14% more than Veles, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sveti Nikole and Veles are more affordable than the global median – Sveti Nikole 35% lower, Veles 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 MKD 512

$8.74 MKD 462

10.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.47 MKD 1,874

$18.64 MKD 985

90.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 MKD 297

$5.75 MKD 304

-2.09%

Cappuccino

$1.71 MKD 90.5

$1.58 MKD 83.6

8.23%

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

$1.43 MKD 75.7

$1.31 MKD 69.1

9.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 MKD 55.8

$0.84 MKD 44.63

26.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 MKD 86.8

$1.55 MKD 81.9

5.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 MKD 101

$3.30 MKD 175

-42.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 73.9

$1.10 MKD 58.1

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 MKD 32.77

$0.51 MKD 26.71

21.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 MKD 64.4

$1.53 MKD 80.7

-20.26%

Eggs

$2.59 MKD 137

$2.56 MKD 135

1.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 MKD 508

$2.96 MKD 156

224.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 MKD 244

$4.03 MKD 213

14.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 MKD 648

$15.26 MKD 806

-19.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 71.1

$1.53 MKD 80.8

-11.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 MKD 68.8

$1.44 MKD 75.9

-9.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 MKD 71.1

$1.43 MKD 75.5

-5.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 MKD 94.0

$2.02 MKD 107

-11.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MKD 41.06

$0.87 MKD 45.72

-10.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MKD 61.5

$0.87 MKD 46.00

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 MKD 42.87

$0.62 MKD 32.61

30.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MKD 23.73

$0.58 MKD 30.53

-22.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 MKD 171

$3.49 MKD 184

-7.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 MKD 356

$6.42 MKD 339

4.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 53.4

$1.10 MKD 58.2

-8.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MKD 80.8

$1.55 MKD 82.0

-1.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MKD 40.48

$0.79 MKD 41.62

-2.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.78 MKD 1,309

$24.38 MKD 1,288

1.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 MKD 78.6

$1.14 MKD 60.3

30.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 MKD 55.8

$0.69 MKD 36.42

53.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 MKD 199

$7.61 MKD 402

-50.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 MKD 76.7

$1.43 MKD 75.4

1.40%

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

$35.3K MKD 1.9M

$27.4K MKD 1.4M

28.70%

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

$28.3K MKD 1.5M

$25.2K MKD 1.3M

12.26%

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

$152 MKD 8,056

$116 MKD 6,103

32.00%

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

$16.13 MKD 852

$17.79 MKD 940

-9.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.07 MKD 638

$12.37 MKD 654

-2.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.42 MKD 1,237

$26.11 MKD 1,379

-10.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.12 MKD 1,116

$18.35 MKD 969

15.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.26 MKD 278

$3.32 MKD 175

58.43%

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

$363 MKD 19.2K

$229 MKD 12.1K

58.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,991 MKD 316.5K

$5,616 MKD 296.7K

6.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.4 MKD 4,038

$22.52 MKD 1,190

239.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.44 MKD 1,766

$18.78 MKD 992

78.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 MKD 4,530

$74.0 MKD 3,911

15.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.1 MKD 4,762

$111 MKD 5,876

-18.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 MKD 17.2K

$223 MKD 11.8K

46.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 MKD 10.7K

$178 MKD 9,390

13.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 MKD 24.8K

$291 MKD 15.3K

61.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 MKD 15.7K

$235 MKD 12.4K

26.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,618 MKD 85.5K

$1,229 MKD 64.9K

31.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,206 MKD 63.7K

$982 MKD 51.9K

22.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$556 MKD 29.4K

$601 MKD 31.8K

-7.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

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

Last update for Sveti Nikole: September 7, 2026

Last update for Veles: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $326 in Sveti Nikole versus $223 in Veles. 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 8% higher in Veles, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Sveti Nikole versus $19.00 in Veles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $174 – making Veles 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 Veles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sveti Nikole costs about 14% more than Veles, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,346 per month in Sveti Nikole and $1,178 in Veles. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Veles, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Sveti Nikole and $229 in Veles. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Sveti Nikole, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $897 in Sveti Nikole and $785 in Veles, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Veles – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Veles. 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.