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 $887 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $770 in Veles, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,144 in Veles, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,759 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,517 in Veles, rent included.

Sveti Nikole costs about 15% more than Veles, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sveti Nikole and Veles are more affordable than the global median – Sveti Nikole 34% lower, Veles 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.74 MKD 302

$5.80 MKD 306

-1.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.63 MKD 1,509

$18.89 MKD 996

51.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.21 MKD 275

$5.12 MKD 270

1.76%

Cappuccino

$1.73 MKD 91.4

$1.59 MKD 83.6

8.81%

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

$1.67 MKD 88.3

$1.32 MKD 69.3

26.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 MKD 66.5

$0.84 MKD 44.50

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 MKD 116

$1.47 MKD 77.7

49.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 MKD 142

$2.65 MKD 139

1.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 68.1

$1.05 MKD 55.2

22.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MKD 37.59

$0.55 MKD 28.91

29.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MKD 90.7

$1.49 MKD 78.3

15.44%

Eggs

$2.08 MKD 110

$2.09 MKD 110

-0.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.30 MKD 438

$3.10 MKD 163

167.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 MKD 341

$4.05 MKD 214

59.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 MKD 703

$13.42 MKD 707

-0.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 56.5

$1.07 MKD 56.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MKD 76.2

$1.40 MKD 73.7

3.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 MKD 66.7

$1.25 MKD 65.9

1.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 MKD 83.1

$1.59 MKD 83.8

-0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 MKD 49.70

$0.99 MKD 52.0

-5.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 52.3

$1.40 MKD 73.8

-29.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 MKD 32.51

$0.57 MKD 30.27

8.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MKD 27.75

$0.53 MKD 27.78

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 MKD 161

$3.03 MKD 160

0.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.48 MKD 341

$6.48 MKD 342

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 53.3

$1.02 MKD 53.6

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 MKD 76.8

$1.86 MKD 98.1

-21.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 MKD 34.20

$0.67 MKD 35.52

-2.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.07 MKD 1,058

$50.1 MKD 2,638

-59.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 MKD 68.2

$1.10 MKD 58.0

17.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.87

$0.49 MKD 25.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.44 MKD 339

$6.51 MKD 343

-1.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.5

$1.43 MKD 75.6

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

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

$27.2K MKD 1.4M

17.85%

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

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

$24.9K MKD 1.3M

20.51%

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

$145 MKD 7,619

$116 MKD 6,111

24.68%

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

$17.35 MKD 915

$17.27 MKD 910

0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.43 MKD 813

$12.28 MKD 647

25.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.73 MKD 1,409

$25.78 MKD 1,359

3.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.86 MKD 98.2

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 MKD 243

$3.36 MKD 177

36.90%

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

$215 MKD 11.4K

$218 MKD 11.5K

-1.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,226 MKD 64.6K

$1,216 MKD 64.1K

0.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 MKD 4,009

$22.63 MKD 1,193

236.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.12 MKD 2,061

$19.03 MKD 1,003

105.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 MKD 3,922

$75.3 MKD 3,968

-1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,860

$113 MKD 5,981

-2.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 MKD 14.8K

$220 MKD 11.6K

27.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 MKD 10.4K

$175 MKD 9,198

13.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 MKD 29.7K

$293 MKD 15.4K

92.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MKD 16.3K

$238 MKD 12.5K

29.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,644 MKD 86.6K

$1,239 MKD 65.3K

32.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,276 MKD 67.3K

$952 MKD 50.2K

34.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$568 MKD 29.9K

$606 MKD 31.9K

-6.17%

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 Veles: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Sveti Nikole versus $220 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 7% 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 $29.00 in Sveti Nikole versus $19.00 in Veles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $163 – 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 15% 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 $1,331 per month in Sveti Nikole and $1,156 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 $215 per month in Sveti Nikole and $218 in Veles. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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 $887 in Sveti Nikole and $770 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.