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