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 $785 per month in Veles vs $897 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,155 per month in Veles vs $1,379 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,525 per month in Veles vs $1,860 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

Veles is about 12% 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 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 MKD 462

$9.68 MKD 512

-9.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 MKD 985

$35.47 MKD 1,874

-47.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.75 MKD 304

$5.63 MKD 297

2.13%

Cappuccino

$1.58 MKD 83.6

$1.71 MKD 90.5

-7.60%

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

$1.31 MKD 69.1

$1.43 MKD 75.7

-8.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 MKD 44.63

$1.06 MKD 55.8

-20.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 MKD 81.9

$1.64 MKD 86.8

-5.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 MKD 175

$1.91 MKD 101

72.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 MKD 58.1

$1.40 MKD 73.9

-21.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MKD 26.71

$0.62 MKD 32.77

-17.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 MKD 80.7

$1.22 MKD 64.4

25.41%

Eggs

$2.56 MKD 135

$2.59 MKD 137

-1.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.96 MKD 156

$9.61 MKD 508

-69.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 MKD 213

$4.61 MKD 244

-12.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.26 MKD 806

$12.27 MKD 648

24.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 MKD 80.8

$1.35 MKD 71.1

13.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MKD 75.9

$1.30 MKD 68.8

10.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 75.5

$1.35 MKD 71.1

5.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 MKD 107

$1.78 MKD 94.0

13.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 MKD 45.72

$0.78 MKD 41.06

11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 MKD 46.00

$1.16 MKD 61.5

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 MKD 32.61

$0.81 MKD 42.87

-23.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.53

$0.45 MKD 23.73

28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 MKD 184

$3.23 MKD 171

8.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.42 MKD 339

$6.74 MKD 356

-4.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 MKD 58.2

$1.01 MKD 53.4

8.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 MKD 82.0

$1.53 MKD 80.8

1.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 MKD 41.62

$0.77 MKD 40.48

2.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.38 MKD 1,288

$24.78 MKD 1,309

-1.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MKD 60.3

$1.49 MKD 78.6

-23.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 MKD 36.42

$1.06 MKD 55.8

-34.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 MKD 402

$3.77 MKD 199

101.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.4

$1.45 MKD 76.7

-1.38%

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

$27.4K MKD 1.4M

$35.3K MKD 1.9M

-22.30%

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

$25.2K MKD 1.3M

$28.3K MKD 1.5M

-10.92%

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

$116 MKD 6,103

$152 MKD 8,056

-24.24%

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

$17.79 MKD 940

$16.13 MKD 852

10.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.37 MKD 654

$12.07 MKD 638

2.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.11 MKD 1,379

$23.42 MKD 1,237

11.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.35 MKD 969

$21.12 MKD 1,116

-13.12%

Cinema Ticket

$3.32 MKD 175

$5.26 MKD 278

-36.88%

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

$229 MKD 12.1K

$363 MKD 19.2K

-36.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,616 MKD 296.7K

$5,991 MKD 316.5K

-6.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.52 MKD 1,190

$76.4 MKD 4,038

-70.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.78 MKD 992

$33.44 MKD 1,766

-43.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 MKD 3,911

$85.7 MKD 4,530

-13.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,876

$90.1 MKD 4,762

23.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$223 MKD 11.8K

$326 MKD 17.2K

-31.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 MKD 9,390

$202 MKD 10.7K

-12.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 MKD 15.3K

$470 MKD 24.8K

-38.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 MKD 12.4K

$298 MKD 15.7K

-21.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,229 MKD 64.9K

$1,618 MKD 85.5K

-24.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$982 MKD 51.9K

$1,206 MKD 63.7K

-18.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 MKD 31.8K

$556 MKD 29.4K

8.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

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

Last update for Veles: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $223 in Veles versus $326 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 $35.00 in Sveti Nikole. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $188 – 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 14% 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 $1,178 per month in Veles and $1,346 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 $229 per month in Veles and $363 in Sveti Nikole. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $785 in Veles and $897 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.