Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Gostivar Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Gostivar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $868 in Gostivar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,295 in Gostivar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,721 in Gostivar.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 44% more expensive than in Gostivar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Gostivar 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$6.51 MKD 346

74.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$28.17 MKD 1,498

37.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$6.07 MKD 323

56.84%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$1.39 MKD 74.0

145.32%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$1.38 MKD 73.2

-24.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$1.10 MKD 58.6

-41.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$1.33 MKD 70.7

96.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$1.93 MKD 103

67.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.33 MKD 70.7

63.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.73 MKD 39.04

1.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.47 MKD 78.4

16.33%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.46 MKD 131

15.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$6.50 MKD 345

41.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$5.72 MKD 304

18.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$15.27 MKD 812

-16.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$1.46 MKD 77.9

12.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.44 MKD 76.6

22.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$1.35 MKD 71.7

38.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.86 MKD 98.8

31.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.89 MKD 47.32

-2.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.72 MKD 38.29

-9.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.60 MKD 32.02

133.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.59 MKD 31.20

25.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$2.89 MKD 154

17.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$4.60 MKD 245

65.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$0.97 MKD 51.4

75.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$1.46 MKD 77.7

63.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.68 MKD 36.33

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

$25.14 MKD 1,337

-39.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.79 MKD 41.81

49.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.34 MKD 18.24

123.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$7.84 MKD 417

44.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.54 MKD 81.8

-13.64%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

-26.10%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$28.6K MKD 1.5M

-23.05%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$131 MKD 6,951

-32.02%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$11.29 MKD 600

18.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$18.88 MKD 1,004

6.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$25.62 MKD 1,362

168.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

$19.14 MKD 1,018

-5.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$7.63 MKD 406

-11.93%

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

$374 ₾971

$366 MKD 19.5K

2.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$5,823 MKD 309.6K

83.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$37.84 MKD 2,012

167.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$36.88 MKD 1,961

6.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$106 MKD 5,636

10.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$115 MKD 6,137

5.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$271 MKD 14.4K

151.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$195 MKD 10.4K

134.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$471 MKD 25.1K

176.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$304 MKD 16.1K

196.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

$1,532 MKD 81.5K

59.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

$1,155 MKD 61.4K

25.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$882 MKD 46.9K

-26.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

4.23

198.35%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $271 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gostivar pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $28.00 in Gostivar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $191 per month, with Gostivar cheaper across the board.

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

Tbilisi vs Gostivar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gostivar wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gostivar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Gostivar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $271 in Gostivar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $868 in Gostivar – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 65% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $868 in Gostivar versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gostivar but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Gostivar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Gostivar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $868 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gostivar hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Gostivar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gostivar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.