Cost of Living Comparison Between Kocani and Sveti Nikole Cost of Living Comparison Between Kocani and Sveti Nikole

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $849 in Kocani versus $864 in Sveti Nikole.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,281 in Kocani versus $1,289 in Sveti Nikole.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,713 in Kocani versus $1,715 in Sveti Nikole.

Living in Kocani costs roughly 2% less than in Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kocani 36% lower, Sveti Nikole 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 MKD 293

$5.70 MKD 304

-3.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.76 MKD 1,484

$27.77 MKD 1,484

-0.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 MKD 265

$5.13 MKD 274

-3.31%

Cappuccino

$1.12 MKD 59.8

$1.71 MKD 91.2

-34.50%

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

$1.52 MKD 81.2

$1.66 MKD 88.7

-8.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MKD 61.4

$1.22 MKD 65.0

-5.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 MKD 123

$2.31 MKD 123

-0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 MKD 144

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 MKD 65.8

$1.31 MKD 70.1

-6.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 MKD 30.49

$0.71 MKD 38.13

-19.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 MKD 78.6

$1.73 MKD 92.5

-15.03%

Eggs

$1.90 MKD 101

$2.03 MKD 108

-6.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.32 MKD 552

$8.22 MKD 439

25.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.55 MKD 297

$6.22 MKD 333

-10.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.30 MKD 711

$13.81 MKD 738

-3.69%

Apples (1kg)

$0.76 MKD 40.73

$1.03 MKD 55.0

-26.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MKD 74.8

$1.42 MKD 76.0

-1.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 MKD 67.3

$1.29 MKD 69.0

-2.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 MKD 79.1

$1.61 MKD 86.3

-8.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 MKD 52.5

$0.89 MKD 47.35

10.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 MKD 69.1

$0.99 MKD 52.7

30.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 MKD 31.30

$0.66 MKD 35.05

-10.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MKD 28.16

$0.54 MKD 28.71

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 MKD 158

$2.97 MKD 159

-0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.64 MKD 194

$6.39 MKD 342

-43.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 MKD 52.4

$1.00 MKD 53.3

-2.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 MKD 95.7

$1.53 MKD 81.9

16.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MKD 37.00

$0.64 MKD 34.47

7.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.42 MKD 1,091

$20.23 MKD 1,081

0.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MKD 61.4

$1.33 MKD 70.9

-13.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MKD 28.32

$0.49 MKD 26.22

8.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 MKD 202

$6.55 MKD 350

-42.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 79.6

$1.49 MKD 79.8

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

$31.6K MKD 1.7M

0.01%

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

$34.3K MKD 1.8M

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

16.10%

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

$146 MKD 7,778

$146 MKD 7,816

-0.49%

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

$17.45 MKD 933

$17.49 MKD 934

-0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.29 MKD 817

$15.26 MKD 815

0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.89 MKD 1,116

$25.90 MKD 1,384

-19.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MKD 257

$4.78 MKD 256

0.63%

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

$217 MKD 11.6K

$215 MKD 11.5K

0.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,203 MKD 64.3K

$1,185 MKD 63.3K

1.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 MKD 4,133

$77.0 MKD 4,116

0.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.39 MKD 2,586

$40.23 MKD 2,150

20.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 MKD 4,075

$75.1 MKD 4,014

1.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 MKD 5,917

$112 MKD 5,967

-0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MKD 14.9K

0.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 MKD 10.3K

$195 MKD 10.4K

-0.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 MKD 29.6K

-0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 MKD 16.3K

$311 MKD 16.6K

-1.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,446 MKD 77.3K

$1,628 MKD 87.0K

-11.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 MKD 67.0K

$1,244 MKD 66.5K

0.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$466 MKD 24.9K

$552 MKD 29.5K

-15.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

4.54

56.39%

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

Last update for Kocani: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Kocani and $279 in Sveti Nikole. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sveti Nikole pays 18% 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 Sveti Nikole for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $194 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 Sveti Nikole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kocani and Sveti Nikole differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($849 vs $864 including rent). Kocani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Sveti Nikole. 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: $279 in Kocani versus $279 in Sveti Nikole. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kocani runs roughly 1% less than in Sveti Nikole. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $217 in Kocani versus $215 in Sveti Nikole. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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 Sveti Nikole 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 2% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.