Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tetovo and Bitola

For one person, living is cheaper in Bitola: $859 a month against $997 in Tetovo, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tetovo, North Macedonia
Bitola, North Macedonia
Tetovo
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
$997
/mo nomad
Bitola
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
$859
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tetovo and in Bitola

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tetovo and in Bitola actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $997 in Tetovo versus $859 in Bitola.

  • Tetovo $997
  • Bitola $859

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,500 in Tetovo versus $1,289 in Bitola.

  • Tetovo $1,500
  • Bitola $1,289

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,004 in Tetovo versus $1,718 in Bitola.

  • Tetovo $2,004
  • Bitola $1,718

Living in Tetovo is roughly 16% more expensive than in Bitola, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tetovo 27% lower, Bitola 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tetovo
Bitola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.37 MKD 405
$5.23 MKD 287
40.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.68 MKD 1,523
$26.77 MKD 1,472
3.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.69 MKD 313
$5.04 MKD 277
12.90%
Cappuccino
$1.56 MKD 85.8
$1.96 MKD 108
-20.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MKD 82.9
$1.71 MKD 93.9
-11.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MKD 50.4
$1.46 MKD 80.3
-36.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 MKD 117
$2.16 MKD 119
-1.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 MKD 118
$2.62 MKD 144
-18.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tetovo
Bitola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 MKD 69.9
$1.38 MKD 75.7
-7.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 MKD 34.23
$0.66 MKD 36.57
-6.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 MKD 72.0
$1.72 MKD 94.7
-23.84%
Eggs
$2.08 MKD 115
$1.98 MKD 109
5.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.41 MKD 408
$9.93 MKD 546
-25.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.10 MKD 280
$6.81 MKD 375
-25.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.31 MKD 567
$13.08 MKD 719
-21.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 MKD 80.0
$1.01 MKD 55.4
44.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MKD 79.4
$1.39 MKD 76.6
3.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.95 MKD 52.1
$1.24 MKD 68.1
-23.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 MKD 103
$1.59 MKD 87.4
18.24%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 MKD 46.07
$0.91 MKD 49.82
-7.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 MKD 38.22
$1.34 MKD 73.6
-48.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 MKD 32.31
$0.53 MKD 28.91
11.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 MKD 29.25
$0.50 MKD 27.30
6.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01 MKD 166
$3.30 MKD 181
-8.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.49 MKD 247
$6.06 MKD 333
-25.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MKD 57.9
$0.91 MKD 49.92
15.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MKD 79.6
$1.83 MKD 101
-20.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Tetovo
Bitola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MKD 19.05
$0.54 MKD 29.49
-35.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.88 MKD 598
$16.24 MKD 893
-33.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 MKD 60.5
$1.08 MKD 59.3
1.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MKD 28.98
$0.57 MKD 31.35
-7.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.37 MKD 405
$6.32 MKD 348
16.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 MKD 81.8
$1.50 MKD 82.4
-0.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K MKD 1.9M
$30.9K MKD 1.7M
10.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K MKD 1.5M
$32.4K MKD 1.8M
-16.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tetovo
Bitola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 MKD 8,720
$148 MKD 8,113
7.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.95 MKD 987
$14.08 MKD 774
27.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.25 MKD 1,059
$12.62 MKD 694
52.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tetovo
Bitola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.9 MKD 3,843
$22.16 MKD 1,219
215.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.12 MKD 996
$6.43 MKD 354
181.80%
Cinema Ticket
$5.41 MKD 298
$4.57 MKD 252
18.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tetovo
Bitola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 MKD 12.2K
$211 MKD 11.6K
4.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,175 MKD 119.6K
$1,167 MKD 64.2K
86.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tetovo
Bitola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.5 MKD 3,548
$76.3 MKD 4,198
-15.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 MKD 2,034
$46.27 MKD 2,545
-20.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MKD 5,710
$73.3 MKD 4,029
41.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 MKD 6,095
$111 MKD 6,088
0.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tetovo
Bitola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$351 MKD 19.3K
$260 MKD 14.3K
35.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$273 MKD 15.0K
$185 MKD 10.2K
47.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 MKD 32.1K
$396 MKD 21.8K
47.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 MKD 26.6K
$293 MKD 16.1K
64.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,231 MKD 67.7K
$1,709 MKD 94.0K
-27.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,104 MKD 60.7K
$1,142 MKD 62.8K
-3.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tetovo
Bitola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$861 MKD 47.3K
$750 MKD 41.3K
14.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.75
6.45
-41.86%

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

Last update for Tetovo: October 27, 2026

Last update for Bitola: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tetovo
$273
Bitola
$185 32.2% $88
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tetovo
$196
Bitola
$174 11% $22
Groceries & Markets
Tetovo
$170
Bitola
$198 16.6% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Tetovo
$142
Bitola
$138 3% $4.3
Eating Out
Tetovo
$119
Bitola
$109 8.5% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Tetovo
$81
Bitola
$31 61.2% $49
Getting Around
Tetovo
$16
Bitola
$22 39.4% $6.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $351 in Tetovo and $260 in Bitola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tetovo pays 15% 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: $28 in Tetovo vs $27 in Bitola. Groceries flip the comparison at $170 vs $198, with Tetovo cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇰 Tetovo
🇲🇰 Bitola
🕒 Local time
01:38 1:38 AM
01:38 1:38 AM
Same time as Tetovo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
53,000
74,550
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MKD – North Macedonian Denar Converter

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 55 MKD (100 MKD = 1.82 USD). 1 EUR = 61.41 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tetovo Bitola 110 km
From you
  • Tetovo
  • Bitola

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
What is the total cost difference between living in Tetovo and in Bitola?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $997 in Tetovo and $859 in Bitola, so Bitola is about 14% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tetovo or Bitola?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Tetovo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Tetovo and in Bitola?
Rent for a central apartment: $351 in Tetovo versus $260 in Bitola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Tetovo pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bitola – a meal for two runs $27 versus $28 in Tetovo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Tetovo compared to Bitola?
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.
Where should families live: Tetovo or Bitola?
For families, Bitola is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tetovo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
How do I decide between Tetovo and Bitola?
It comes down to priorities – Bitola wins on affordability, Tetovo on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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