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: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $865 in Kocani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,276 in Kocani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,687 in Kocani.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 159% more expensive than Kocani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Kocani is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$5.57MKD 292
182.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$28.51MKD 1,494
121.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$5.13MKD 269
101.17%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$1.16MKD 61.0
142.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$1.52MKD 79.5
53.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$1.11MKD 58.2
36.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$2.29MKD 120
47.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$2.79MKD 146
40.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.28MKD 67.1
-15.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$0.55MKD 28.62
218.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.53MKD 80.1
14.38%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$1.91MKD 100
62.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$10.33MKD 541
28.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$5.71MKD 299
37.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$13.30MKD 697
20.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$0.77MKD 40.61
210.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.43MKD 75.0
20.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.27MKD 66.4
55.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$1.47MKD 76.9
73.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.98MKD 51.1
82.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.35MKD 70.6
45.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$0.57MKD 29.88
243.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$0.52MKD 27.48
61.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$3.05MKD 160
123.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$3.79MKD 199
54.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$0.93MKD 48.55
48.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$1.85MKD 97.0
57.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$0.68MKD 35.51
236.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$20.01MKD 1,049
134.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$1.15MKD 60.2
258.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$0.50MKD 26.01
62.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$3.73MKD 195
407.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.50MKD 78.5
39.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$31.6KMKD 1.7M
11.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
18.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$143MKD 7,514
4.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$17.16MKD 899
19.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$15.81MKD 828
147.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$20.42MKD 1,070
143.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$4.82MKD 253
90.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$219MKD 11.5K
185.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$1,217MKD 63.8K
1206.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$77.5MKD 4,063
31.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$47.48MKD 2,488
-13.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$75.8MKD 3,973
26.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$111MKD 5,842
8.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$285MKD 14.9K
480.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$195MKD 10.2K
531.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$557MKD 29.2K
446.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$307MKD 16.1K
571.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$1,587MKD 83.2K
396.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$1,232MKD 64.5K
249.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kocani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$473MKD 24.8K
231.02%
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Kocani: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $285 in Kocani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 231% 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 in Lisbon vs $29 in Kocani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $186 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 Kocani?
Lisbon and Kocani differ by about 159% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $865 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?
Lisbon pays 231% more on average, 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 Kocani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $285 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 Kocani?
A monthly transit pass in Kocani runs roughly 134% 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 $624 in Lisbon versus $219 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 $865 in Kocani versus $2,243 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 159% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.