Cost of Living Comparison Between Veles and Sveti Nikole Cost of Living Comparison Between Veles and Sveti Nikole

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $770 per month in Veles vs $887 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,144 per month in Veles vs $1,323 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,517 per month in Veles vs $1,759 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

Veles is about 13% cheaper than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Veles and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median – Veles 43% lower, Sveti Nikole 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.80 MKD 306

$5.74 MKD 302

1.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.89 MKD 996

$28.63 MKD 1,509

-34.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.12 MKD 270

$5.21 MKD 275

-1.73%

Cappuccino

$1.59 MKD 83.6

$1.73 MKD 91.4

-8.09%

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

$1.32 MKD 69.3

$1.67 MKD 88.3

-20.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 MKD 44.50

$1.26 MKD 66.5

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 MKD 77.7

$2.20 MKD 116

-33.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 MKD 139

$2.69 MKD 142

-1.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 MKD 55.2

$1.29 MKD 68.1

-18.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 MKD 28.91

$0.71 MKD 37.59

-22.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MKD 78.3

$1.72 MKD 90.7

-13.37%

Eggs

$2.09 MKD 110

$2.08 MKD 110

0.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.10 MKD 163

$8.30 MKD 438

-62.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 MKD 214

$6.47 MKD 341

-37.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 MKD 707

$13.33 MKD 703

0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 MKD 56.1

$1.07 MKD 56.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 73.7

$1.45 MKD 76.2

-3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 MKD 65.9

$1.27 MKD 66.7

-1.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 MKD 83.8

$1.58 MKD 83.1

0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 52.0

$0.94 MKD 49.70

5.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 73.8

$0.99 MKD 52.3

41.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 MKD 30.27

$0.62 MKD 32.51

-8.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MKD 27.78

$0.53 MKD 27.75

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 MKD 160

$3.06 MKD 161

-0.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.48 MKD 342

$6.48 MKD 341

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MKD 53.6

$1.01 MKD 53.3

0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 MKD 98.1

$1.46 MKD 76.8

27.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 MKD 35.52

$0.65 MKD 34.20

3.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.1 MKD 2,638

$20.07 MKD 1,058

149.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 MKD 58.0

$1.29 MKD 68.2

-14.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.71

$0.49 MKD 25.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 MKD 343

$6.44 MKD 339

1.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.6

$1.43 MKD 75.5

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

$27.2K MKD 1.4M

$32.1K MKD 1.7M

-15.15%

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

$24.9K MKD 1.3M

$30.0K MKD 1.6M

-17.02%

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

$116 MKD 6,111

$145 MKD 7,619

-19.80%

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

$17.27 MKD 910

$17.35 MKD 915

-0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.28 MKD 647

$15.43 MKD 813

-20.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.78 MKD 1,359

$26.73 MKD 1,409

-3.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.86 MKD 98.2

Cinema Ticket

$3.36 MKD 177

$4.60 MKD 243

-26.96%

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

$218 MKD 11.5K

$215 MKD 11.4K

1.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,216 MKD 64.1K

$1,226 MKD 64.6K

-0.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.63 MKD 1,193

$76.1 MKD 4,009

-70.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.03 MKD 1,003

$39.12 MKD 2,061

-51.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 MKD 3,968

$74.4 MKD 3,922

1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 5,981

$111 MKD 5,860

2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$220 MKD 11.6K

$281 MKD 14.8K

-21.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 MKD 9,198

$198 MKD 10.4K

-11.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$293 MKD 15.4K

$563 MKD 29.7K

-47.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 MKD 12.5K

$309 MKD 16.3K

-23.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,239 MKD 65.3K

$1,644 MKD 86.6K

-24.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$952 MKD 50.2K

$1,276 MKD 67.3K

-25.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 MKD 31.9K

$568 MKD 29.9K

6.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

4.54

56.39%

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

Last update for Veles: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $220 in Veles versus $281 in Sveti Nikole. 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 7% 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 $19.00 in Veles versus $29.00 in Sveti Nikole. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $194 – 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

Veles vs Sveti Nikole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sveti Nikole costs about 15% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,156 per month in Veles and $1,331 in Sveti Nikole. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $218 per month in Veles and $215 in Sveti Nikole. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $770 in Veles and $887 in Sveti Nikole, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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.

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.