Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhongshan and Gostivar Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhongshan and Gostivar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $638 in Zhongshan versus $796 in Gostivar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,007 in Zhongshan versus $1,194 in Gostivar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,376 in Zhongshan versus $1,593 in Gostivar.

Living in Zhongshan costs roughly 20% less than in Gostivar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zhongshan 52% lower, Gostivar 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 ¥18.66

$5.14 MKD 271

-46.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.90 ¥114

$23.16 MKD 1,219

-27.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 ¥27.71

$5.15 MKD 271

-20.58%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ¥18.48

$1.38 MKD 72.9

97.83%

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

$0.41 ¥2.77

$1.15 MKD 60.4

-64.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.82

$1.10 MKD 57.8

-75.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 ¥4.91

$1.39 MKD 73.4

-48.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥11.64

$1.92 MKD 101

-10.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ¥12.32

$1.35 MKD 71.1

34.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 ¥12.06

$0.67 MKD 35.20

165.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ¥6.12

$1.49 MKD 78.2

-39.60%

Eggs

$1.56 ¥10.60

$2.03 MKD 107

-23.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.82 ¥86.8

$6.60 MKD 348

94.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.71 ¥18.32

$5.58 MKD 294

-51.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 ¥85.0

$13.60 MKD 716

-7.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ¥12.66

$1.03 MKD 54.3

81.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.30

$1.39 MKD 73.4

-33.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 ¥4.18

$1.26 MKD 66.3

-50.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.06

$1.59 MKD 83.7

-15.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 ¥3.59

$0.93 MKD 48.78

-43.01%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.83

$0.78 MKD 40.84

-8.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 ¥2.68

$0.55 MKD 28.94

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ¥3.45

$0.54 MKD 28.43

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 ¥18.34

$2.81 MKD 148

-3.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.12 ¥88.9

$4.81 MKD 253

172.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ¥4.09

$0.98 MKD 51.8

-38.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ¥12.36

$1.49 MKD 78.2

22.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.98

$0.69 MKD 36.33

-57.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.73 ¥93.0

$20.48 MKD 1,078

-32.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 ¥8.54

$0.91 MKD 47.88

38.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.55

$0.33 MKD 17.24

15.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 ¥45.65

$6.51 MKD 343

3.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥7.90

$1.50 MKD 79.0

-22.00%

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

$22.7K ¥153.7K

$31.5K MKD 1.7M

-28.00%

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

$20.4K ¥138.4K

$46.3K MKD 2.4M

-55.91%

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

$38.52 ¥261

$133 MKD 6,991

-70.99%

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

$8.47 ¥57.4

$11.41 MKD 601

-25.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.90 ¥80.6

$15.53 MKD 818

-23.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 ¥430

$26.77 MKD 1,410

137.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.12 ¥48.22

Cinema Ticket

$5.41 ¥36.65

$4.78 MKD 251

13.18%

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

$296 ¥2,005

$216 MKD 11.4K

36.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ¥86.1K

$1,182 MKD 62.2K

975.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.75 ¥303

$37.45 MKD 1,972

19.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.02 ¥210

$38.17 MKD 2,010

-18.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.1 ¥373

$75.8 MKD 3,993

-27.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ¥475

$111 MKD 5,833

-36.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 ¥1,332

$283 MKD 14.9K

-30.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 ¥793

$192 MKD 10.1K

-39.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 ¥2,320

$553 MKD 29.1K

-38.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 ¥1,327

$309 MKD 16.3K

-36.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,454 ¥16.6K

$1,657 MKD 87.3K

48.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,479 ¥10.0K

$1,289 MKD 67.8K

14.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$964 ¥6,527

$888 MKD 46.7K

8.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.83

6.5

-41.08%

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

Last update for Zhongshan: May 30, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Zhongshan and $283 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhongshan pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Zhongshan vs $23.00 in Gostivar. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $180, with Gostivar cheaper for home cooking.

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

Zhongshan vs Gostivar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zhongshan wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Gostivar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zhongshan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Zhongshan pays 9% more on average, 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: $197 in Zhongshan versus $283 in Gostivar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $638 per month in Zhongshan versus $796 in Gostivar – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Zhongshan runs roughly 49% less than in Gostivar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Zhongshan 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.

Expats usually find Zhongshan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Gostivar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.