Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Kocani Cost of Living Comparison Between Bitola and Kocani

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Bitola versus $857 in Kocani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Bitola versus $1,277 in Kocani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,790 in Bitola versus $1,697 in Kocani.

Living in Bitola is roughly 3% more expensive than Kocani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bitola 34% lower, Kocani 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 MKD 292

$5.68 MKD 302

-2.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.91 MKD 1,481

$28.13 MKD 1,492

-0.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 MKD 271

Cappuccino

$1.96 MKD 104

$1.15 MKD 61.3

70.43%

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

$1.72 MKD 91.2

$1.48 MKD 78.7

16.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MKD 68.2

$1.15 MKD 60.9

12.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 MKD 117

$2.27 MKD 121

-3.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MKD 147

$2.73 MKD 145

1.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MKD 74.3

$1.29 MKD 68.3

8.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MKD 35.86

$0.54 MKD 28.91

25.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MKD 90.6

$1.54 MKD 81.6

11.04%

Eggs

$2.04 MKD 108

$1.92 MKD 102

6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 MKD 544

$10.08 MKD 535

1.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.28 MKD 386

$5.74 MKD 304

26.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.75 MKD 730

$13.64 MKD 724

0.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 54.7

$0.71 MKD 37.93

45.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 75.8

$1.37 MKD 72.8

4.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 MKD 69.1

$1.31 MKD 69.7

-0.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 86.7

$1.54 MKD 81.9

5.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 MKD 48.37

$0.97 MKD 51.6

-6.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 71.3

$1.34 MKD 71.0

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 30.88

$0.54 MKD 28.68

7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MKD 27.85

$0.52 MKD 27.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 MKD 159

$2.96 MKD 157

1.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 MKD 315

$3.78 MKD 200

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 MKD 49.99

$0.99 MKD 52.6

-5.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MKD 99.7

$1.81 MKD 96.2

3.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MKD 28.91

$0.69 MKD 36.50

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.73 MKD 888

$20.43 MKD 1,084

-18.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 MKD 59.3

$1.15 MKD 61.0

-2.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MKD 26.48

$0.49 MKD 25.79

2.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 MKD 357

$3.77 MKD 200

78.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.8

$1.44 MKD 76.6

-0.69%

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

$32.0K MKD 1.7M

$32.2K MKD 1.7M

-0.71%

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

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

1.08%

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

$145 MKD 7,695

$143 MKD 7,565

1.73%

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

$17.86 MKD 948

$17.50 MKD 928

2.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.58 MKD 826

$15.76 MKD 836

-1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.59 MKD 1,305

$20.37 MKD 1,081

20.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 MKD 344

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MKD 257

$4.81 MKD 255

0.62%

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

$219 MKD 11.6K

$216 MKD 11.5K

1.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,214 MKD 64.4K

$1,201 MKD 63.7K

1.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.2 MKD 4,042

$77.2 MKD 4,097

-1.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.94 MKD 2,597

$47.07 MKD 2,497

3.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 MKD 4,013

$75.5 MKD 4,004

0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MKD 6,013

$111 MKD 5,911

1.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MKD 15.1K

$282 MKD 14.9K

1.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 MKD 10.5K

$195 MKD 10.3K

1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 MKD 31.4K

$563 MKD 29.9K

5.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 MKD 16.7K

$315 MKD 16.7K

0.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,726 MKD 91.6K

$1,512 MKD 80.2K

14.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,188 MKD 63.0K

$1,239 MKD 65.7K

-4.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$785 MKD 41.6K

$461 MKD 24.5K

70.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

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

Last update for Bitola: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kocani: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Bitola and $282 in Kocani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bitola pays 70% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $28.00 in Bitola vs $28.00 in Kocani. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $187, with Kocani 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

Bitola vs Kocani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bitola and Kocani differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($883 vs $857 including rent). Kocani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bitola pays 70% 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: $285 in Bitola versus $282 in Kocani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Bitola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Kocani – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $28.00 in Bitola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kocani 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.

Safety-wise, Bitola and Kocani are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kocani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Bitola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.