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: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $891 in Kocani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,343 in Kocani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,795 in Kocani.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 154% more expensive than in Kocani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Kocani is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.12
$9.68 MKD 512
81.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$34.27 MKD 1,810
88.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
$6.81 MKD 360
71.07%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$1.11 MKD 58.8
193.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$1.48 MKD 78.0
68.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$1.16 MKD 61.2
43.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$2.81 MKD 149
23.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$3.23 MKD 171
10.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.29 MKD 68.1
-8.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$0.58 MKD 30.74
236.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$1.74 MKD 91.9
-10.34%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$1.82 MKD 95.9
120.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.44
$6.42 MKD 339
106.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$4.43 MKD 234
90.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$8.54 MKD 451
113.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.34 MKD 70.6
73.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.44 MKD 75.9
20.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$1.30 MKD 68.7
48.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$1.92 MKD 101
37.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$0.74 MKD 39.26
156.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$0.83 MKD 43.69
154.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$0.60 MKD 31.61
140.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.49 MKD 26.02
63.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$3.60 MKD 190
94.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$3.68 MKD 195
60.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$0.84 MKD 44.28
61.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.10 MKD 58.1
95.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$1.40 MKD 73.9
70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.85
$24.96 MKD 1,319
85.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
$1.14 MKD 60.4
267.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
$0.64 MKD 34.01
71.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
$3.32 MKD 175
419.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$1.47 MKD 77.7
53.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
$36.4K MKD 1.9M
-5.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
$28.1K MKD 1.5M
48.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$167 MKD 8,807
2.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.38
$17.96 MKD 949
5.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.55
$14.88 MKD 786
130.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.80
$17.14 MKD 906
189.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.81
$18.77 MKD 991
3.94%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$7.10 MKD 375
42.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$381 MKD 20.1K
83.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$5,458 MKD 288.3K
225.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$65.3 MKD 3,450
60.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.35
$39.58 MKD 2,091
21.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$96.2 MKD 5,081
5.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$104 MKD 5,494
23.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,432
$289 MKD 15.3K
474.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$201 MKD 10.6K
510.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,513
$455 MKD 24.0K
540.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,744
$307 MKD 16.2K
558.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,007
$1,616 MKD 85.4K
403.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,996
$1,215 MKD 64.2K
281.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$469 MKD 24.8K
244.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
4.25
-11.06%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Kocani: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $289 in Kocani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 245% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Kocani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $156 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 154% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $891 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 245% 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: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $289 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 85% 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 $699 in Lisbon versus $381 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 $891 in Kocani versus $2,268 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 154% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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