🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $857 in Kocani versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,277 in Kocani versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,697 in Kocani versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Kocani costs roughly 16% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kocani36% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kocani
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.68MKD 302
$5.95COP 20.8K
-4.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.13MKD 1,492
$33.33COP 116.3K
-15.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.11MKD 271
$7.23COP 25.2K
-29.32%
Cappuccino
$1.15MKD 61.3
$1.63COP 5,687
-29.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48MKD 78.7
$1.09COP 3,821
35.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MKD 60.9
$0.73COP 2,548
57.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27MKD 121
$1.74COP 6,065
30.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73MKD 145
$3.23COP 11.3K
-15.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kocani
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29MKD 68.3
$1.05COP 3,662
22.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54MKD 28.91
$1.29COP 4,515
-58.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54MKD 81.6
$1.32COP 4,617
16.67%
Eggs
$1.92MKD 102
$2.27COP 7,927
-15.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MKD 535
$4.35COP 15.2K
131.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.74MKD 304
$5.88COP 20.5K
-2.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.64MKD 724
$8.61COP 30.0K
58.42%
Apples(1kg)
$0.71MKD 37.93
$2.25COP 7,844
-68.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MKD 72.8
$1.07COP 3,733
28.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MKD 69.7
$1.52COP 5,322
-13.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54MKD 81.9
$1.42COP 4,964
8.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97MKD 51.6
$1.17COP 4,084
-17.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34MKD 71.0
$1.17COP 4,077
14.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54MKD 28.68
$0.89COP 3,096
-39.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MKD 27.76
$0.90COP 3,146
-42.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96MKD 157
$2.25COP 7,837
31.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.78MKD 200
$11.04COP 38.5K
-65.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99MKD 52.6
$1.14COP 3,977
-13.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81MKD 96.2
$2.38COP 8,301
-23.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Kocani
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69MKD 36.50
$0.84COP 2,916
-17.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.43MKD 1,084
$41.95COP 146.4K
-51.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MKD 61.0
$1.41COP 4,912
-18.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.79
$1.90COP 6,634
-74.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.77MKD 200
$7.75COP 27.0K
-51.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MKD 76.6
$1.01COP 3,509
42.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KMKD 1.7M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
83.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
26.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kocani
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143MKD 7,565
$83.7COP 292.1K
70.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50MKD 928
$9.45COP 33.0K
85.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.76MKD 836
$24.11COP 84.1K
-34.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kocani
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.37MKD 1,081
$25.31COP 88.3K
-19.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.81MKD 255
$4.10COP 14.3K
17.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kocani
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216MKD 11.5K
$312COP 1.1M
-30.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,201MKD 63.7K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-79.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kocani
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2MKD 4,097
$58.0COP 202.6K
33.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.07MKD 2,497
$32.56COP 113.6K
44.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5MKD 4,004
$99.6COP 347.7K
-24.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111MKD 5,911
$109COP 378.8K
2.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kocani
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282MKD 14.9K
$482COP 1.7M
-41.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195MKD 10.3K
$379COP 1.3M
-48.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$563MKD 29.9K
$837COP 2.9M
-32.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$315MKD 16.7K
$723COP 2.5M
-56.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,512MKD 80.2K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-46.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,239MKD 65.7K
$1,223COP 4.3M
1.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kocani
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$461MKD 24.5K
$541COP 1.9M
-14.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
13.43
-47.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kocani: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Kocani and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 17% 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 $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $190 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kocani and Medellin?
Kocani and Medellin differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($857 vs $1,017 including rent). Kocani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Medellin earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Kocani and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Kocani versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kocani and Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Kocani runs roughly 105% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kocani and Medellin?
Childcare runs $216 in Kocani versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $857 in Kocani versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kocani but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kocani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kocani and Medellin?
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.
Where should expats move: Kocani or Medellin?
Expats usually find Kocani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.