😐A single person spends $885 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $765 in Veles, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,136 in Veles, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,713 per month in Sveti Nikole vs $1,507 in Veles, rent included.
😐Sveti Nikole costs about 16% more than Veles, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Sveti Nikole and Veles are more affordable than the global median – Sveti Nikole34% lower, Veles43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sveti Nikole
Veles
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.66MKD 304
$5.77MKD 310
-1.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.68MKD 1,486
$18.54MKD 995
49.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.13MKD 275
$5.05MKD 271
1.58%
Cappuccino
$1.71MKD 91.9
$1.53MKD 82.2
11.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MKD 86.4
$1.33MKD 71.2
21.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 66.3
$0.85MKD 45.37
44.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32MKD 124
$1.52MKD 81.4
52.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74MKD 147
$2.77MKD 149
-1.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sveti Nikole
Veles
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25MKD 66.8
$1.09MKD 58.5
14.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73MKD 39.40
$0.55MKD 29.50
32.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69MKD 90.8
$1.54MKD 82.8
9.74%
Eggs
$2.04MKD 110
$2.05MKD 110
-0.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.56MKD 460
$3.04MKD 163
181.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.33MKD 340
$4.07MKD 218
55.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.78MKD 740
$13.68MKD 734
0.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07MKD 57.5
$1.04MKD 55.8
2.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MKD 73.6
$1.37MKD 73.6
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25MKD 67.0
$1.26MKD 67.6
-0.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63MKD 87.6
$1.58MKD 84.9
3.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95MKD 50.8
$0.98MKD 52.6
-3.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91MKD 48.80
$1.33MKD 71.6
-31.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61MKD 32.52
$0.58MKD 31.01
5.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MKD 28.77
$0.54MKD 28.96
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07MKD 165
$2.94MKD 158
4.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.62MKD 356
$6.17MKD 331
7.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96MKD 51.4
$1.00MKD 53.7
-4.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MKD 81.6
$1.83MKD 98.1
-16.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Sveti Nikole
Veles
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64MKD 34.11
$0.68MKD 36.68
-5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.57MKD 1,104
$49.96MKD 2,682
-58.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.34MKD 72.0
$1.16MKD 62.4
15.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MKD 26.73
$0.49MKD 26.42
2.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.69MKD 359
$6.43MKD 345
4.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42MKD 76.2
$1.45MKD 77.7
-2.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KMKD 1.7M
$27.0KMKD 1.4M
17.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KMKD 1.6M
$24.6KMKD 1.3M
19.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sveti Nikole
Veles
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146MKD 7,857
$115MKD 6,159
27.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.61MKD 945
$17.17MKD 922
2.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.28MKD 820
$12.10MKD 650
26.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sveti Nikole
Veles
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.21MKD 1,407
$26.15MKD 1,404
0.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$1.92MKD 103
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.58MKD 246
$3.35MKD 180
36.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sveti Nikole
Veles
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$223MKD 12.0K
$223MKD 12.0K
0.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,208MKD 64.9K
$1,210MKD 64.9K
-0.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sveti Nikole
Veles
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.2MKD 4,088
$22.39MKD 1,202
240.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.34MKD 2,166
$19.06MKD 1,023
111.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.0MKD 4,082
$75.1MKD 4,033
1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113MKD 6,054
$113MKD 6,052
0.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sveti Nikole
Veles
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280MKD 15.0K
$226MKD 12.1K
23.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$193MKD 10.3K
$174MKD 9,326
10.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$573MKD 30.7K
$291MKD 15.6K
96.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MKD 16.4K
$242MKD 13.0K
26.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,602MKD 86.0K
$1,201MKD 64.5K
33.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,274MKD 68.4K
$957MKD 51.4K
33.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sveti Nikole
Veles
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$561MKD 30.1K
$603MKD 32.4K
-7.04%
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 Veles: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Sveti Nikole versus $226 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 $28.00 in Sveti Nikole versus $19.00 in Veles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 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
Which city is more expensive, Sveti Nikole or Veles?
Sveti Nikole costs about 16% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sveti Nikole and in Veles?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,327 per month in Sveti Nikole and $1,147 in Veles. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sveti Nikole or Veles?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Sveti Nikole and in Veles?
Kindergarten costs $223 per month in Sveti Nikole and $223 in Veles. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Sveti Nikole or in Veles?
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.
Can you live on $800/month in Sveti Nikole or in Veles?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $885 in Sveti Nikole and $765 in Veles, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Sveti Nikole compared to Veles?
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.
Should I move to Sveti Nikole or to Veles?
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.
Sveti Nikole vs other spots: cost of living compared