Cost of Living Comparison Between Tetovo and Bitola Cost of Living Comparison Between Tetovo and Bitola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Tetovo versus $892 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,469 in Tetovo versus $1,346 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,939 in Tetovo versus $1,800 in Bitola.

Living in Tetovo is roughly 12% more expensive than Bitola, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tetovo 25% lower, Bitola 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.53 MKD 291

$5.49 MKD 288

0.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.53 MKD 1,341

$28.66 MKD 1,505

-10.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MKD 260

$5.13 MKD 270

-3.51%

Cappuccino

$1.54 MKD 80.7

$1.96 MKD 103

-21.43%

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

$1.46 MKD 76.5

$1.79 MKD 94.0

-18.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 52.9

$1.23 MKD 64.8

-17.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 MKD 120

$2.29 MKD 120

-0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 MKD 111

$2.67 MKD 140

-20.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 MKD 68.7

$1.41 MKD 73.9

-7.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 MKD 33.90

$0.68 MKD 35.96

-4.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 71.4

$1.71 MKD 89.9

-20.47%

Eggs

$2.03 MKD 107

$2.05 MKD 108

-0.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 MKD 391

$10.40 MKD 546

-28.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 MKD 280

$7.38 MKD 388

-27.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 MKD 556

$13.35 MKD 701

-20.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 54.0

$1.02 MKD 53.7

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 75.6

$1.38 MKD 72.3

4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 MKD 53.2

$1.27 MKD 66.7

-20.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MKD 84.9

$1.55 MKD 81.5

4.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 MKD 50.8

$0.97 MKD 51.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MKD 37.93

$1.34 MKD 70.4

-46.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 MKD 44.00

$0.57 MKD 30.10

47.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 29.29

$0.54 MKD 28.11

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 MKD 162

$3.04 MKD 160

1.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.72 MKD 248

$6.03 MKD 317

-21.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 MKD 52.4

$0.92 MKD 48.58

8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MKD 77.2

$1.79 MKD 94.2

-17.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MKD 20.69

$0.54 MKD 28.59

-27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.19 MKD 587

$17.24 MKD 906

-35.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MKD 60.7

$1.10 MKD 57.7

5.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.61

$0.52 MKD 27.33

-5.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 MKD 336

$6.67 MKD 350

-4.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 78.3

$1.47 MKD 77.2

1.36%

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

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$31.8K MKD 1.7M

0.35%

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

$33.4K MKD 1.8M

$33.2K MKD 1.7M

0.69%

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

$146 MKD 7,653

$148 MKD 7,751

-1.27%

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

$17.51 MKD 920

$17.55 MKD 922

-0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.68 MKD 824

$15.32 MKD 805

2.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.8 MKD 4,713

$24.06 MKD 1,264

273.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.70 MKD 352

Cinema Ticket

$4.72 MKD 248

$4.77 MKD 251

-1.05%

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

$218 MKD 11.5K

$216 MKD 11.3K

1.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,238 MKD 117.5K

$1,195 MKD 62.8K

87.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.6 MKD 3,498

$76.2 MKD 3,999

-12.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.20 MKD 2,531

$48.40 MKD 2,542

-0.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 MKD 3,957

$76.5 MKD 4,016

-1.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 5,972

$112 MKD 5,880

1.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$357 MKD 18.8K

$284 MKD 14.9K

25.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 MKD 14.9K

$198 MKD 10.4K

43.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 MKD 31.9K

$592 MKD 31.1K

2.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 MKD 26.0K

$313 MKD 16.4K

58.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,305 MKD 68.6K

$1,796 MKD 94.3K

-27.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,162 MKD 61.0K

$1,203 MKD 63.2K

-3.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$920 MKD 48.3K

$788 MKD 41.4K

16.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.75

7.1

-47.18%

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

Last update for Tetovo: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bitola: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $357 in Tetovo and $284 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tetovo pays 17% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Tetovo vs $29.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $205 per month, with Tetovo 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

Tetovo vs Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tetovo and Bitola differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,000 vs $892 including rent). Bitola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Tetovo pays 17% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $357 in Tetovo versus $284 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Tetovo pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Bitola – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $26.00 in Tetovo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bitola gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tetovo and Bitola 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 Bitola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Tetovo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.