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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Kocani costs roughly 3% less than in Bitola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.68 MKD 302

$5.51 MKD 292

3.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.13 MKD 1,492

$27.91 MKD 1,481

0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 MKD 271

Cappuccino

$1.15 MKD 61.3

$1.96 MKD 104

-41.33%

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

$1.48 MKD 78.7

$1.72 MKD 91.2

-13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MKD 60.9

$1.29 MKD 68.2

-10.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 MKD 121

$2.20 MKD 117

3.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 MKD 145

$2.77 MKD 147

-1.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 68.3

$1.40 MKD 74.3

-7.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 MKD 28.91

$0.68 MKD 35.86

-20.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 MKD 81.6

$1.71 MKD 90.6

-9.94%

Eggs

$1.92 MKD 102

$2.04 MKD 108

-5.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MKD 535

$10.25 MKD 544

-1.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.74 MKD 304

$7.28 MKD 386

-21.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 MKD 724

$13.75 MKD 730

-0.80%

Apples (1kg)

$0.71 MKD 37.93

$1.03 MKD 54.7

-31.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MKD 72.8

$1.43 MKD 75.8

-4.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 MKD 69.7

$1.30 MKD 69.1

0.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 MKD 81.9

$1.63 MKD 86.7

-5.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 MKD 51.6

$0.91 MKD 48.37

6.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MKD 71.0

$1.34 MKD 71.3

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 MKD 28.68

$0.58 MKD 30.88

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MKD 27.76

$0.52 MKD 27.85

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 MKD 157

$3.00 MKD 159

-1.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.78 MKD 200

$5.94 MKD 315

-36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 MKD 52.6

$0.94 MKD 49.99

5.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 MKD 96.2

$1.88 MKD 99.7

-3.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MKD 36.50

$0.54 MKD 28.91

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.43 MKD 1,084

$16.73 MKD 888

22.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MKD 61.0

$1.12 MKD 59.3

2.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.79

$0.50 MKD 26.48

-2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 MKD 200

$6.74 MKD 357

-44.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MKD 76.6

$1.43 MKD 75.8

0.70%

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

$32.2K MKD 1.7M

$32.0K MKD 1.7M

0.71%

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

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

$34.0K MKD 1.8M

-1.07%

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

$143 MKD 7,565

$145 MKD 7,695

-1.70%

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

$17.50 MKD 928

$17.86 MKD 948

-2.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.76 MKD 836

$15.58 MKD 826

1.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.37 MKD 1,081

$24.59 MKD 1,305

-17.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 MKD 344

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MKD 255

$4.84 MKD 257

-0.62%

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

$216 MKD 11.5K

$219 MKD 11.6K

-1.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,201 MKD 63.7K

$1,214 MKD 64.4K

-1.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 MKD 4,097

$76.2 MKD 4,042

1.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.07 MKD 2,497

$48.94 MKD 2,597

-3.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 MKD 4,004

$75.6 MKD 4,013

-0.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,911

$113 MKD 6,013

-1.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 MKD 14.9K

$285 MKD 15.1K

-1.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 MKD 10.3K

$198 MKD 10.5K

-1.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 MKD 29.9K

$591 MKD 31.4K

-4.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 MKD 16.7K

$316 MKD 16.7K

-0.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,512 MKD 80.2K

$1,726 MKD 91.6K

-12.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,239 MKD 65.7K

$1,188 MKD 63.0K

4.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$461 MKD 24.5K

$785 MKD 41.6K

-41.21%

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 Kocani: June 6, 2026

Last update for Bitola: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Kocani and $285 in Bitola. 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 Kocani vs $28.00 in Bitola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $206 per month, with Kocani cheaper across the board.

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

Kocani vs Bitola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, Bitola earns 70% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Kocani versus $285 in Bitola. 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, Kocani and Bitola 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.