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: $996 in Tetovo versus $880 in Bitola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,490 in Tetovo versus $1,333 in Bitola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,985 in Tetovo versus $1,787 in Bitola.

Living in Tetovo is roughly 13% more expensive than in Bitola, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tetovo 25% lower, Bitola 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.77 MKD 308

$5.56 MKD 297

3.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.99 MKD 1,336

$28.29 MKD 1,512

-11.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.17 MKD 276

$5.14 MKD 275

0.58%

Cappuccino

$1.52 MKD 81.4

$1.91 MKD 102

-20.42%

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

$1.54 MKD 82.2

$1.76 MKD 94.0

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 MKD 51.2

$1.26 MKD 67.5

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 MKD 121

$2.23 MKD 119

1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 MKD 119

$2.74 MKD 146

-18.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 MKD 69.5

$1.35 MKD 72.0

-3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 MKD 35.19

$0.68 MKD 36.18

-2.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 72.9

$1.76 MKD 94.1

-22.73%

Eggs

$2.03 MKD 109

$2.01 MKD 108

1.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 MKD 391

$10.03 MKD 536

-27.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 MKD 285

$7.39 MKD 395

-27.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.70 MKD 572

$13.74 MKD 734

-22.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 55.3

$1.07 MKD 57.0

-3.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 76.5

$1.39 MKD 74.2

2.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 MKD 54.4

$1.26 MKD 67.4

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 MKD 84.4

$1.62 MKD 86.7

-2.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 MKD 49.96

$0.94 MKD 50.2

-1.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 MKD 39.04

$1.35 MKD 72.0

-45.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MKD 47.60

$0.58 MKD 31.07

53.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MKD 29.91

$0.56 MKD 29.99

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 MKD 168

$2.94 MKD 157

6.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.60 MKD 246

$6.16 MKD 329

-25.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 MKD 50.8

$1.00 MKD 53.4

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MKD 78.8

$1.89 MKD 101

-22.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MKD 19.70

$0.57 MKD 30.48

-35.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.40 MKD 609

$16.81 MKD 899

-32.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 59.5

$1.16 MKD 62.0

-4.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MKD 28.17

$0.49 MKD 26.21

8.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 MKD 361

$6.52 MKD 348

3.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 MKD 76.0

$1.48 MKD 79.0

-4.05%

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

$32.2K MKD 1.7M

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

0.43%

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

$34.1K MKD 1.8M

$33.5K MKD 1.8M

1.86%

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

$143 MKD 7,624

$143 MKD 7,654

-0.39%

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

$17.92 MKD 958

$17.64 MKD 943

1.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.73 MKD 841

$15.37 MKD 822

2.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.9 MKD 4,697

$24.06 MKD 1,286

265.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.73 MKD 360

Cinema Ticket

$4.57 MKD 244

$4.77 MKD 255

-4.19%

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

$217 MKD 11.6K

$221 MKD 11.8K

-1.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,250 MKD 120.3K

$1,221 MKD 65.2K

84.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 MKD 3,455

$77.2 MKD 4,124

-16.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.85 MKD 2,611

$47.66 MKD 2,547

2.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 MKD 4,033

-0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MKD 5,961

$114 MKD 6,103

-2.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$357 MKD 19.1K

$282 MKD 15.1K

26.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 MKD 15.1K

$194 MKD 10.4K

45.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 MKD 32.4K

$597 MKD 31.9K

1.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 MKD 26.8K

$315 MKD 16.8K

59.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,230 MKD 65.7K

$1,698 MKD 90.7K

-27.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,114 MKD 59.5K

$1,179 MKD 63.0K

-5.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$885 MKD 47.3K

$762 MKD 40.7K

16.10%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bitola: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $357 in Tetovo and $282 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tetovo pays 16% 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: $25.00 in Tetovo vs $28.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $206 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 13% in total monthly costs ($996 vs $880 including rent). Bitola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 16% higher in Tetovo, 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 $282 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Tetovo pay roughly 21% 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 $28.00 versus $25.00 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 13% less than in Tetovo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.