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: $689 in Zhongshan versus $863 in Gostivar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,093 in Zhongshan versus $1,329 in Gostivar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,497 in Zhongshan versus $1,795 in Gostivar.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Zhongshan 50% lower, Gostivar 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 ¥19.73

$6.67 MKD 352

-55.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.60 ¥158

$28.70 MKD 1,515

-17.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ¥30.50

$6.08 MKD 321

-25.16%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ¥19.79

$1.38 MKD 73.1

113.77%

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

$0.44 ¥2.92

$1.40 MKD 73.9

-68.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.93

$1.15 MKD 60.7

-74.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.77 ¥5.15

$1.35 MKD 71.1

-42.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ¥12.17

$1.87 MKD 98.8

-2.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ¥10.52

$1.34 MKD 70.6

17.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 ¥11.37

$0.74 MKD 38.83

129.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.69

$1.47 MKD 77.7

-52.38%

Eggs

$1.19 ¥7.97

$2.50 MKD 132

-52.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.28 ¥149

$6.74 MKD 356

230.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.80 ¥18.73

$5.50 MKD 290

-49.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.44 ¥90.1

$15.01 MKD 792

-10.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ¥13.86

$1.45 MKD 76.3

42.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.07

$1.49 MKD 78.7

-28.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.70

$1.42 MKD 75.2

-50.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ¥9.40

$1.86 MKD 98.0

-24.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.86 MKD 45.51

-33.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.76

$0.78 MKD 41.35

-8.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 ¥2.83

$0.65 MKD 34.18

-35.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ¥3.56

$0.55 MKD 28.99

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ¥19.34

$2.91 MKD 154

-0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 ¥84.4

$4.62 MKD 244

172.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ¥4.59

$0.96 MKD 50.5

-29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥12.34

$1.49 MKD 78.5

23.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ¥2.08

$0.76 MKD 40.14

-59.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.59 ¥97.8

$25.30 MKD 1,335

-42.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ¥10.12

$0.78 MKD 40.92

93.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 ¥2.73

$0.34 MKD 17.97

20.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.17 ¥48.03

$8.04 MKD 424

-10.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥8.03

$1.55 MKD 81.7

-22.58%

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

$19.7K ¥131.9K

$33.8K MKD 1.8M

-41.67%

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

$18.0K ¥120.7K

$28.0K MKD 1.5M

-35.78%

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

$40.98 ¥275

$131 MKD 6,925

-68.77%

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

$9.96 ¥66.7

$11.45 MKD 604

-13.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.77 ¥85.6

$19.56 MKD 1,032

-34.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.8 ¥448

$28.43 MKD 1,500

135.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.29 ¥48.86

$20.65 MKD 1,089

-64.70%

Cinema Ticket

$6.06 ¥40.58

$7.26 MKD 383

-16.53%

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

$314 ¥2,106

$377 MKD 19.9K

-16.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥90.6K

$5,491 MKD 289.8K

146.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.55 ¥319

$37.80 MKD 1,995

25.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.80 ¥267

$37.20 MKD 1,963

6.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 ¥396

$109 MKD 5,775

-45.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.6 ¥500

$117 MKD 6,180

-36.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 ¥1,397

$282 MKD 14.9K

-26.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 ¥839

$201 MKD 10.6K

-37.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 ¥2,525

$462 MKD 24.4K

-18.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 ¥1,403

$305 MKD 16.1K

-31.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,486 ¥16.7K

$1,572 MKD 82.9K

58.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,495 ¥10.0K

$1,211 MKD 63.9K

23.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$964 ¥6,463

$903 MKD 47.7K

6.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

4.25

-20.00%

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

Last update for Zhongshan: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $209 in Zhongshan and $282 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhongshan pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Zhongshan vs $29.00 in Gostivar. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $191, 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.

Average pay runs 7% higher in Zhongshan, 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: $209 in Zhongshan versus $282 in Gostivar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $689 per month in Zhongshan versus $863 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 73% 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.