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: $642 in Zhongshan versus $802 in Gostivar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $996 in Zhongshan versus $1,198 in Gostivar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,350 in Zhongshan versus $1,594 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 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 ¥18.92

$5.08 MKD 273

-44.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.98 ¥115

$23.50 MKD 1,262

-27.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 ¥28.89

$4.97 MKD 267

-14.08%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ¥18.89

$1.43 MKD 76.8

95.80%

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

$0.40 ¥2.72

$1.16 MKD 62.2

-65.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.81

$1.16 MKD 62.1

-76.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 ¥4.90

$1.40 MKD 75.4

-47.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ¥11.43

$1.93 MKD 104

-12.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ¥11.94

$1.33 MKD 71.6

33.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 ¥12.17

$0.71 MKD 38.34

153.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ¥6.56

$1.47 MKD 78.9

-34.01%

Eggs

$1.56 ¥10.54

$2.12 MKD 114

-26.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.87 ¥87.0

$6.63 MKD 356

94.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 ¥17.53

$5.79 MKD 311

-55.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 ¥85.3

$13.84 MKD 743

-8.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 ¥12.35

$1.06 MKD 57.0

72.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 ¥6.36

$1.38 MKD 74.1

-31.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 ¥4.06

$1.26 MKD 67.7

-52.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ¥9.30

$1.63 MKD 87.3

-15.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 ¥3.40

$0.92 MKD 49.42

-45.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.96

$0.73 MKD 39.01

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 ¥2.44

$0.54 MKD 28.82

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ¥3.48

$0.53 MKD 28.61

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 ¥19.32

$2.90 MKD 156

-1.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.36 ¥83.6

$4.60 MKD 247

168.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ¥4.38

$0.95 MKD 51.2

-31.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ¥13.03

$1.52 MKD 81.6

26.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.96

$0.69 MKD 36.80

-57.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.82 ¥93.4

$20.28 MKD 1,088

-31.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 ¥8.62

$0.90 MKD 48.09

42.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.52

$0.35 MKD 18.85

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.01 ¥47.39

$6.49 MKD 348

8.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥7.65

$1.42 MKD 76.2

-20.42%

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

$22.8K ¥154.1K

$31.4K MKD 1.7M

-27.27%

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

$20.3K ¥137.2K

$46.8K MKD 2.5M

-56.63%

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

$38.39 ¥259

$133 MKD 7,148

-71.17%

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

$8.49 ¥57.4

$11.11 MKD 597

-23.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.88 ¥80.3

$15.48 MKD 831

-23.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 ¥430

$26.78 MKD 1,438

137.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.98 ¥47.20

Cinema Ticket

$5.71 ¥38.59

$4.74 MKD 255

20.46%

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

$298 ¥2,014

$222 MKD 11.9K

33.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ¥84.4K

$1,225 MKD 65.8K

919.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.38 ¥300

$38.14 MKD 2,047

16.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.38 ¥205

$37.21 MKD 1,997

-18.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.6 ¥382

$75.0 MKD 4,027

-24.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.3 ¥468

$112 MKD 5,988

-37.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$196 ¥1,323

$286 MKD 15.3K

-31.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 ¥806

$194 MKD 10.4K

-38.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ¥2,359

$573 MKD 30.8K

-39.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ¥1,354

$312 MKD 16.8K

-35.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,411 ¥16.3K

$1,575 MKD 84.5K

53.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,457 ¥9,846

$1,282 MKD 68.8K

13.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$948 ¥6,409

$877 MKD 47.1K

8.15%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Gostivar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $196 in Zhongshan and $286 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhongshan pays 8% 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 $24.00 in Gostivar. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $182, 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 8% 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: $196 in Zhongshan versus $286 in Gostivar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $642 per month in Zhongshan versus $802 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 47% 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.