Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kocani Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kocani

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $849 in Kocani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,281 in Kocani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,713 in Kocani.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 168% more expensive than in Kocani, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Kocani is 36% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.74
$5.48 MKD 295
187.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.3
$27.76 MKD 1,493
128.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.11
$4.96 MKD 267
110.69%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.54
$1.12 MKD 60.2
159.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$1.52 MKD 81.7
50.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.31
$1.15 MKD 61.8
30.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.11
$2.30 MKD 124
54.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.46
$2.69 MKD 145
47.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.23 MKD 66.2
-12.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.57 MKD 30.68
208.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$1.47 MKD 79.0
15.65%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.83
$1.90 MKD 102
71.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.55
$10.32 MKD 555
28.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.72
$5.55 MKD 298
38.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.75
$13.30 MKD 715
18.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.76 MKD 40.98
200.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.44
$1.40 MKD 75.3
18.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$1.26 MKD 67.7
60.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.16
$1.48 MKD 79.6
66.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.56
$0.98 MKD 52.8
82.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.80
$1.29 MKD 69.5
60.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.72
$0.59 MKD 31.49
233.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.73
$0.53 MKD 28.33
56.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.71
$2.96 MKD 159
121.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.85
$3.64 MKD 196
53.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.16
$0.98 MKD 52.8
35.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.62
$1.79 MKD 96.3
68.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.98
$0.69 MKD 37.23
228.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.41
$20.42 MKD 1,098
126.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.69
$1.15 MKD 61.8
267.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.53 MKD 28.49
60.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.41
$3.78 MKD 203
398.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.76
$1.49 MKD 80.1
35.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.5K
$31.6K MKD 1.7M
10.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.6K
$34.3K MKD 1.8M
15.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$146 MKD 7,826
1.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.89
$17.45 MKD 938
17.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.46
$15.29 MKD 822
158.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €42.00
$20.89 MKD 1,123
130.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €16.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.93
$4.81 MKD 259
89.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €536
$217 MKD 11.7K
183.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.2K
$1,203 MKD 64.7K
1254.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.6
$77.3 MKD 4,158
31.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.69
$48.39 MKD 2,602
-13.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €80.5
$76.3 MKD 4,100
21.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$111 MKD 5,953
10.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,405
$279 MKD 15.0K
476.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,093
$193 MKD 10.4K
548.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,676
$554 MKD 29.8K
454.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,776
$304 MKD 16.4K
569.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,757
$1,446 MKD 77.8K
435.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,737
$1,254 MKD 67.4K
241.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,396
$466 MKD 25.1K
243.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
7.1
-46.34%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kocani: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $279 in Kocani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 243% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Kocani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $185 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
Lisbon vs Kocani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Kocani?
Lisbon and Kocani differ by about 168% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $849 including rent). Kocani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Kocani?
Average pay runs 243% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Kocani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $279 in Kocani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and in Kocani?
A monthly transit pass in Kocani runs roughly 127% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Kocani?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $217 in Kocani. 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 $849 in Kocani versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kocani but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kocani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Kocani?
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.
Is Lisbon or Kocani safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon 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.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Kocani?
Expats usually find Kocani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 168% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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