😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Medellin versus $865 in Kocani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $1,276 in Kocani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,687 in Kocani.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 19% more expensive than Kocani, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Kocani35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.2K
$5.57MKD 292
6.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COP 118.7K
$28.51MKD 1,494
16.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COP 25.9K
$5.13MKD 269
41.33%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,137
$1.16MKD 61.0
47.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,915
$1.52MKD 79.5
-28.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,743
$1.11MKD 58.2
-30.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COP 6,254
$2.29MKD 120
-23.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 11.4K
$2.79MKD 146
13.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,792
$1.28MKD 67.1
-17.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,657
$0.55MKD 28.62
136.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,926
$1.53MKD 80.1
-9.80%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,908
$1.91MKD 100
15.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COP 16.2K
$10.33MKD 541
-56.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.7K
$5.71MKD 299
1.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 32.1K
$13.30MKD 697
-32.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COP 8,182
$0.77MKD 40.61
197.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,791
$1.43MKD 75.0
-25.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,411
$1.27MKD 66.4
18.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,869
$1.47MKD 76.9
-7.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,146
$0.98MKD 51.1
18.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,174
$1.35MKD 70.6
-13.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 2,960
$0.57MKD 29.88
45.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 3,043
$0.52MKD 27.48
63.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,423
$3.05MKD 160
-22.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COP 39.7K
$3.79MKD 199
192.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 4,133
$0.93MKD 48.55
23.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,853
$1.85MKD 97.0
33.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,827
$0.68MKD 35.51
16.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COP 149.8K
$20.01MKD 1,049
109.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,140
$1.15MKD 60.2
25.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,793
$0.50MKD 26.01
280.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COP 27.6K
$3.73MKD 195
106.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COP 3,680
$1.50MKD 78.5
-31.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
$31.6KMKD 1.7M
-44.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
-19.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COP 291.4K
$143MKD 7,514
-43.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COP 33.7K
$17.16MKD 899
-45.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COP 85.1K
$15.81MKD 828
50.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COP 92.6K
$20.42MKD 1,070
26.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COP 14.5K
$4.82MKD 253
-15.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$219MKD 11.5K
42.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COP 21.7M
$1,217MKD 63.8K
398.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COP 210.7K
$77.5MKD 4,063
-24.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COP 117.5K
$47.48MKD 2,488
-30.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COP 359.6K
$75.8MKD 3,973
32.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COP 380.3K
$111MKD 5,842
-4.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.8M
$285MKD 14.9K
72.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$195MKD 10.2K
89.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$557MKD 29.2K
50.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COP 2.6M
$307MKD 16.1K
132.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COP 10.6M
$1,587MKD 83.2K
86.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COP 5.0M
$1,232MKD 64.5K
13.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COP 1.9M
$473MKD 24.8K
12.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
7.1
89.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Last update for Kocani: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Medellin and $285 in Kocani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 12% 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: $33 in Medellin vs $29 in Kocani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 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
Medellin vs Kocani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Kocani?
Medellin and Kocani differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,030 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: Medellin or Kocani?
Medellin pays 12% 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 Medellin and Kocani?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Medellin 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 Medellin and Kocani?
A monthly transit pass in Kocani runs roughly 109% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Kocani?
Childcare runs $312 in Medellin 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 $1,030 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kocani but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kocani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin 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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Kocani?
Expats usually find Kocani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.