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 $765 per month in Veles vs $885 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Veles vs $1,299 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,507 per month in Veles vs $1,713 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

Veles is about 14% 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

$5.77 MKD 309

$5.66 MKD 303

1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.54 MKD 995

$27.68 MKD 1,485

-33.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.05 MKD 271

$5.13 MKD 275

-1.56%

Cappuccino

$1.53 MKD 82.2

$1.71 MKD 91.9

-10.53%

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

$1.33 MKD 71.2

$1.61 MKD 86.3

-17.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 MKD 45.34

$1.23 MKD 66.2

-30.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 MKD 81.4

$2.32 MKD 124

-34.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MKD 148

$2.74 MKD 147

1.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 MKD 58.5

$1.25 MKD 66.8

-12.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 MKD 29.48

$0.73 MKD 39.37

-24.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 MKD 82.7

$1.69 MKD 90.7

-8.88%

Eggs

$2.05 MKD 110

$2.04 MKD 110

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 MKD 163

$8.56 MKD 459

-64.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.07 MKD 218

$6.33 MKD 339

-35.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.68 MKD 734

$13.78 MKD 739

-0.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 MKD 55.7

$1.07 MKD 57.4

-2.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MKD 73.5

$1.37 MKD 73.6

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 MKD 67.5

$1.25 MKD 67.0

0.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 MKD 84.8

$1.63 MKD 87.5

-3.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 52.6

$0.95 MKD 50.8

3.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MKD 71.6

$0.91 MKD 48.76

46.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 30.99

$0.61 MKD 32.50

-4.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MKD 28.94

$0.54 MKD 28.75

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 MKD 158

$3.07 MKD 165

-4.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.17 MKD 331

$6.62 MKD 355

-6.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 MKD 53.7

$0.96 MKD 51.4

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 MKD 98.0

$1.52 MKD 81.6

20.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MKD 36.66

$0.64 MKD 34.09

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.96 MKD 2,680

$20.57 MKD 1,103

142.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MKD 62.4

$1.34 MKD 72.0

-13.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.40

$0.50 MKD 26.71

-2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.43 MKD 345

$6.69 MKD 359

-3.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 MKD 77.7

$1.42 MKD 76.1

2.11%

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

$27.0K MKD 1.4M

$31.7K MKD 1.7M

-14.99%

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

$24.6K MKD 1.3M

$29.5K MKD 1.6M

-16.66%

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

$115 MKD 6,154

$146 MKD 7,851

-21.60%

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

$17.17 MKD 921

$17.61 MKD 944

-2.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.10 MKD 649

$15.28 MKD 820

-20.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.15 MKD 1,403

$26.21 MKD 1,406

-0.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.92 MKD 103

Cinema Ticket

$3.35 MKD 180

$4.58 MKD 246

-26.86%

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

$223 MKD 12.0K

-0.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,210 MKD 64.9K

$1,208 MKD 64.8K

0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.39 MKD 1,201

$76.2 MKD 4,085

-70.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.06 MKD 1,022

$40.34 MKD 2,164

-52.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 MKD 4,030

$76.0 MKD 4,079

-1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 6,048

$113 MKD 6,050

-0.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 MKD 12.1K

$280 MKD 15.0K

-19.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 MKD 9,319

$193 MKD 10.3K

-9.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 MKD 15.6K

$573 MKD 30.7K

-49.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MKD 13.0K

$305 MKD 16.4K

-20.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,201 MKD 64.4K

$1,602 MKD 85.9K

-25.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 MKD 51.3K

$1,274 MKD 68.3K

-24.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 MKD 32.4K

$561 MKD 30.1K

7.58%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Veles versus $280 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 8% 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 $28.00 in Sveti Nikole. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $195 – 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 16% 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 $1,147 per month in Veles and $1,327 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 $223 per month in Veles and $223 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 $765 in Veles and $885 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.